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Haas RA, Crișan I, Vârban D, Vârban R. Aerobiology of the Family Lamiaceae: Novel Perspectives with Special Reference to Volatiles Emission. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1687. [PMID: 38931119 PMCID: PMC11207455 DOI: 10.3390/plants13121687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Lamiaceae is a botanical family rich in aromatic species that are in high demand such as basil, lavender, mint, oregano, sage, and thyme. It has great economical, ecological, ethnobotanical, and floristic importance. The aim of this work is to provide an updated view on the aerobiology of species from the family Lamiaceae, with an emphasis on novelties and emerging applications. From the aerobiology point of view, the greatest interest in this botanical family is related to the volatile organic compounds emitted by the plants and, to a much lesser extent, their pollen. Research has shown that the major volatile organic compounds emitted by the plants from this botanical family are monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The most important monoterpenes reported across studies include α-pinene, β-pinene, 1,8-cineole, menthol, limonene, and γ-terpinene. Most reports tend to cover species from the subfamily Nepetoideae. Volatile oils are produced by glandular trichomes found on aerial organs. Based on general morphology, two main types are found in the family Lamiaceae, namely peltate and capitate trichomes. As a result of pollinator-mediated transfer of pollen, Lamiaceae species present a reduced number of stamens and quantity of pollen. This might explain the low probability of pollen presence in the air from these species. A preliminary synopsis of the experimental evidence presented in this work suggests that the interplay of the organic particles and molecules released by these plants and their environment could be leveraged for beneficial outcomes in agriculture and landscaping. Emerging reports propose their use for intercropping to ensure the success of fructification, increased yield of entomophilous crops, as well as in sensory gardens due to the therapeutic effect of volatiles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ioana Crișan
- Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur Street No. 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (R.A.H.); (D.V.); (R.V.)
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Nechita MA, Pralea IE, Țigu AB, Iuga CA, Pop CR, Gál E, Vârban R, Nechita VI, Oniga O, Toiu A, Benedec D, Hanganu D, Oniga I. Agastache Species (Lamiaceae) as a Valuable Source of Volatile Compounds: GC-MS Profiling and Investigation of In Vitro Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5366. [PMID: 38791403 PMCID: PMC11120732 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in the study of medicinal and aromatic plants, due to their therapeutic properties that correlate with the presence of different active compounds. Agastache species (sp.) are aromatic plants that belong to the Lamiaceae family, originating from North America and East Asia. The present study aimed to evaluate the composition of essential oils (EOs) obtained from different Romanian cultivated Agastache sp. and to investigate their antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) screening revealed that menthone was the dominant constituent of A. foeniculum (31.58%), A. rugosa (39.60%) and A. rugosa 'After Eight' (39.76%) EOs, while estragole was the major constituent of A. foeniculum "Aromat de Buzău" (63.27%) and A. mexicana (41.66%) EOs. The investigation of the antiproliferative effect showed that A. rugosa and A. foeniculum "Aromat de Buzău" EOs had significant cytotoxic activity on MDA-MB-231 and HEPG2 tumour cell lines, with the most promising effect on the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line for A. foeniculum "Aromat de Buzău" EO (IC50 = 203.70 ± 0.24 μg/mL). Regarding the antibacterial activity, A. rugosa EO was most active against E. coli (8.91 ± 3.27 μL/mL) and S. aureus (10.80 ± 0.00 μL/mL). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the cytotoxic effect of Agastache sp. EOs on MDA-MB-231, HCT116 and HEPG2 tumour cell lines. The results of our study provide new and promising information for the subsequent in vivo study of the pharmacological properties of Agastache sp. essential oils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela-Ancuța Nechita
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ion Creangă Street 12, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.-A.N.); (A.T.); (D.H.); (I.O.)
| | - Ioana-Ecaterina Pralea
- Department of Proteomics and Metabolomics, Research Center for Advanced Medicine–MedFuture, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Louis Pasteur Street 4–6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.-E.P.); (C.-A.I.)
| | - Adrian-Bogdan Țigu
- Department of Translational Medicine, Research Center for Advanced Medicine–MedFuture, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Louis Pasteur Street 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cristina-Adela Iuga
- Department of Proteomics and Metabolomics, Research Center for Advanced Medicine–MedFuture, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Louis Pasteur Street 4–6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.-E.P.); (C.-A.I.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Street 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Carmen Rodica Pop
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Florești Street 64, 400509 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Emese Gál
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hungarian Line, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babeș-Bolyai University, Arany János Street 11, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Rodica Vârban
- Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur Street 3–5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Vlad-Ionuț Nechita
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Street 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Ovidiu Oniga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Victor Babeș Street 41, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Anca Toiu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ion Creangă Street 12, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.-A.N.); (A.T.); (D.H.); (I.O.)
| | - Daniela Benedec
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ion Creangă Street 12, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.-A.N.); (A.T.); (D.H.); (I.O.)
| | - Daniela Hanganu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ion Creangă Street 12, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.-A.N.); (A.T.); (D.H.); (I.O.)
| | - Ilioara Oniga
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ion Creangă Street 12, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.-A.N.); (A.T.); (D.H.); (I.O.)
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Giannetti V, Biancolillo A, Marini F, Boccacci Mariani M, Livi G. Characterization of the aroma profile of edible flowers using HS-SPME/GC-MS and chemometrics. Food Res Int 2024; 178:114001. [PMID: 38309925 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
In recent years the consumption of edible flowers has gained new popularity, and their use seems destined to grow thanks to their potential as functional elements and their ability to impart aroma to traditional foods. In this study, the volatile profile of several edible flowers was investigated to identify characteristic compounds to be used as product markers. 85 samples belonging to four cultivars were analyzed by HS-SPME/GC-MS. A PLS-DA was used to build a model capable of differentiating the investigated classes. The resulting model correctly predicted over 95% of the validation samples, highlighting a significant difference between the four types of edible flowers. The VIP analysis highlighted 29 compounds relevant for the characterization of different flowers, many of which were biologically active. The study aims to broaden the framework of objectively measurable tools useful for enhancing the qualitative peculiarity of one product compared to another and offering growth opportunities to emerging food chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Giannetti
- Department of Management, Sapienza University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 9, Rome 00161, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Biancolillo
- Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio 67100, Coppito, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Federico Marini
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Maurizio Boccacci Mariani
- Department of Management, Sapienza University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 9, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Greta Livi
- Department of Management, Sapienza University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 9, Rome 00161, Italy
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Nechita MA, Toiu A, Benedec D, Hanganu D, Ielciu I, Oniga O, Nechita VI, Oniga I. Agastache Species: A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemical Composition and Therapeutic Properties. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2937. [PMID: 37631149 PMCID: PMC10459224 DOI: 10.3390/plants12162937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
The Agastache genus is part of the Lamiaceae family and is native to North America, while one species, Agastache rugosa (A. rugosa), is native to East Asia. A review on the phytochemistry and bioactivity of Agastache genus was last performed in 2014. Since then, a lot of progress has been made on the characterization of the phytochemical and pharmacological profiles of Agastache species. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to present a summary of the findings on the phytochemistry and biological effects of several Agastache species, including both extracts and essential oil characterization. We performed a comprehensive search using PubMed and Scopus databases, following PRISMA criteria regarding the study selection process. The available data is focused mainly on the description of the chemical composition and bioactivity of A. rugosa, with fewer reports referring to Agastache mexicana (A. mexicana) and Agastache foeniculum (A. foeniculum). Agastache species are characterized by the dominance of flavonoids and phenolic acids, as well as volatile compounds, particularly phenylpropanoids and monoterpenes. Moreover, a series of pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-atherosclerotic, and cardioprotective properties, have been reported for species from the Agastache genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela-Ancuța Nechita
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 12 Ion Creangă Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Anca Toiu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 12 Ion Creangă Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Daniela Benedec
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 12 Ion Creangă Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Daniela Hanganu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 12 Ion Creangă Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Irina Ielciu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 23 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ovidiu Oniga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 Victor Babeș Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Vlad-Ionuț Nechita
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Louis Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ilioara Oniga
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 12 Ion Creangă Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Chemical and volatile composition, and microbial communities in edible purple flowers (Torenia fournieri F. Lind.) cultivated in different organic systems. Food Res Int 2022; 162:111973. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Izcara S, Perestrelo R, Morante-Zarcero S, Sierra I, Câmara JS. Volatilomic fingerprinting from edible flowers. Unravelling some impact compounds behind its attractiveness. FOOD BIOSCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2022.102188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Najar B, Pistelli L, Marchioni I, Pistelli L. Valorization of a Waste Product of Edible Flowers: Volatile Characterization of Leaves. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27072172. [PMID: 35408571 PMCID: PMC9000653 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27072172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The leaves of some plants are reported for their culinary uses, while in edible flowers, they are one of the discarded products in the supply chain. We investigated the volatile profile (VP) and the essential oil (EO) compositions of leaves from 12 Lamiaceae species, of which nine belong to the Mentheae tribe and three to the Ocimeae tribe. (2) Methods: Phytochemical analyses were performed using a GC-MS instrument. (3) Results: More than 53% of the Ocimeae tribe VP was represented by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (SH), followed by phenylpropanoids, except for O. × citriodorum, where oxygenated monoterpenes (OM) were the second main class. OM prevailed in six species of the Mentheae tribe except for Agastache ‘Arcado Pink’, Salvia discolor, and S. microphylla, where SH dominated. The EO composition of Ocimeae tribe showed a similar behavior to that of VP concerning the predominant classes. O. basilicum ‘Blue Spice’ (Ob-BS) was an exception, since it showed oxygenated sesquiterpenes (OS: 29.6%) as a second principal class. Sesquiterpene compounds were also present in a high amount in two species of the Salviinae subtribe (S. microphylla and S. discolor) and two of the Nepetinae subtribe (Nepeta × faasenii and A. ‘Arcado Pink’). The remaining species of the Mentheae tribe were characterized by OM. (4) Conclusions: Many of the main compounds found were reported for their importance in human health and thus are important as ingredients in several new industrial products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basma Najar
- Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali (DISAAA-a), Università di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (L.P.); (I.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Laura Pistelli
- Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali (DISAAA-a), Università di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (L.P.); (I.M.)
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Nutraceutica e Alimentazione per la Salute (NUTRA-FOOD), Università di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Ilaria Marchioni
- Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali (DISAAA-a), Università di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (L.P.); (I.M.)
| | - Luisa Pistelli
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Nutraceutica e Alimentazione per la Salute (NUTRA-FOOD), Università di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Najafi F, Kavoosi G, Siahbalaei R, Kariminia A. Anti-oxidative and anti-hyperglycemic properties of Agastache foeniculum essential oil and oily fraction in hyperglycemia-stimulated and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophage cells: In vitro and in silico studies. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 284:114814. [PMID: 34775034 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Hyperglycemia (HG) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) often promote superoxide accumulation, which may increase oxidative stress. Reducing superoxide production in hyperglycemia and the inflammatory condition is an emerging way to reduce protein and lipid oxidation and diabetes complication. AIM OF STUDY To examine the effect of Agastache foeniculum essential oil (AFEO) and oil fraction (AFoil) on HG- and LPS-stimulated oxidative stress, the pathogenicity of AFEO and AFoil on oxidative stress was assessed. METHODS The stimulatory effects of AFEO and AFoil on the activity and expression of NADH oxide (NOX), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the expression of nuclear respiratory factor 2 (NRF2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) in the stimulated macrophage cell line, J774.A1, was studied. The interaction patterns of AFEO and AFoil components with NOX, SOD, CAT, NRF2, and NF-kB proteins were also deduced using molecular docking. RESULTS Estragole was the main ingredient in AFEO (97%). Linolenic acid (32.10%), estragole (16.22%), palmitic acid (12.62%), linoleic acid (12.04%), and oleic acid (8.73%) were the major chemical components of the AFoil. NOX activation was stimulated in macrophage cells by HG and LPS. At 20 μg/mL, AFEO and AFoil decreased NOX activity while increased SOD and CAT activities in stimulated macrophages. AFoil with estragole and omega-3 fatty acids was better than AFEO with estragole in anti-hyperglycemic and anti-oxidative activity. According to molecular docking research, estragole, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid bind to different hydrophobic pockets of NOX, SOD, CAT, NFR2, and NF-kB using hydrogen bonds, van der Waals bonds, pi-alkyl, and pi-anion interactions, with different binding energies. CONCLUSION AFEO and AFoil showed antioxidant and anti-diabetic activity. The mechanisms in lowering oxidative stress markers depended on down-regulating superoxide-producing enzymes and up-regulating superoxide-removing enzymes at gene and protein levels. The AFoil emulsion can be used to reduce the detrimental impacts of hyperglycemia and oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Najafi
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Kavoosi
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Roghayeh Siahbalaei
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Amina Kariminia
- British Columbia Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Traversari S, Pistelli L, Del Ministro B, Cacini S, Costamagna G, Ginepro M, Marchioni I, Orlandini A, Massa D. Combined effect of silicon and non-thermal plasma treatments on yield, mineral content, and nutraceutical proprieties of edible flowers of Begonia cucullata. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2021; 166:1014-1021. [PMID: 34273738 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Edible flowers are becoming popular as a nutraceutical and functional food that can contribute to human nutrition with high antioxidant molecules and mineral elements. While comparative studies between different flower species have been performed, less is known about the best agronomical practices to increase yield and nutraceutical proprieties of blooms. Silicon stimulates plant resistance against stress and promotes plant growth while non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology has been applied for the disinfection and decontamination of water, as well as for increasing plant production and quality. The application of silicon and NTP technology through nutrient solution and spraying was investigated in edible flowers given that the combination of these treatments may play a role in promoting their nutritional and nutraceutical proprieties. The treatments were applied on two varieties of Begonia cucullata Willd. (white and red flowers) to explore their effects on different flower pigmentations. Plants with red flowers showed higher nutraceutical proprieties than the white ones but yielded a lower flower number. While the NTP treatment did not improve flower yield and quality, the silicon treatment increased anthocyanins and dry weight percentage in red flowers. NTP treatment increased zinc concentration, while it decreased potassium, magnesium, and manganese, and increased silicon concentration in white flowers. The combination of silicon and NTP showed negative effects on some nutraceutical proprieties of red flowers thus highlighting that the two treatments cannot be combined in edible flower production. In conclusion, the positive effect of silicon use in edible flower production has been demonstrated while the NTP technology showed contrasting results and its use should be explored in greater depth, including a consideration of its role in biotic attack prevention and reduced chemical input.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Traversari
- CREA Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Via dei Fiori 8, 51017, Pescia (PT), Italy.
| | - Laura Pistelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Agro-environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center Nutraceuticals and Food for Health (NUTRAFOOD), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Bianca Del Ministro
- CREA Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Via dei Fiori 8, 51017, Pescia (PT), Italy
| | - Sonia Cacini
- CREA Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Via dei Fiori 8, 51017, Pescia (PT), Italy
| | - Giulia Costamagna
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Torino, Via P. Giuria 5, 10125, Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Ginepro
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Torino, Via P. Giuria 5, 10125, Torino, Italy
| | - Ilaria Marchioni
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Agro-environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Orlandini
- CREA Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Via dei Fiori 8, 51017, Pescia (PT), Italy
| | - Daniele Massa
- CREA Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Via dei Fiori 8, 51017, Pescia (PT), Italy
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A Systematic Approach to Agastache mexicana Research: Biology, Agronomy, Phytochemistry, and Bioactivity. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26123751. [PMID: 34202929 PMCID: PMC8234942 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26123751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mexico is the center of origin of the species popularly known as toronjil or lemon balm (Agastache mexicana Linton & Epling). Two subspecies have been identified and are commonly called purple or red (Agastache mexicana Linton & Epling subspecies. mexicana) and white (Agastache mexicana subspecies xolocotziana Bye, E.L. Linares & Ramamoorthy). Plants from these subspecies differ in the size and form of inflorescence and leaves. They also possess differences in their chemical compositions, including volatile compounds. Traditional Mexican medicine employs both subspecies. A. mexicana exhibits a broad range of pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and antioxidant. A systematic vision of these plant’s properties is discussed in this review, exposing its significant potential as a source of valuable bioactive compounds. Furthermore, this review provides an understanding of the elements that make up the species’ holistic system to benefit from lemon balm sustainably.
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The Effects of Post-Harvest Treatments on the Quality of Agastache aurantiaca Edible Flowers. HORTICULTURAE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae7040083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Agastache spp. are used as ornamental plants for their pleasant aroma and the different colors of flowers. Nowadays, their edible flowers have become attractive for their nutraceutical properties. Post-harvest treatment appears as a crucial point to avoid impairment of the nutraceutical compounds and aroma, so different treatments were tested to analyze their effect on the bioactive metabolites and volatilome. Results indicated that freeze-drying was the best solution to prolong the shelf life of these flowers. The use of high temperatures (50, 60, 70 °C) led to altered the composition of antioxidant compounds (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins, carotenoids). Air-drying at 30 °C was a reasonable method, even though time consuming. Concerning the aroma profile, all samples were dominated by oxygenated monoterpene compounds. Pulegone was the main or one of the major constituents of all samples together with p-menthone. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry results showed a correlation between the temperature and the number of identified compounds. Both fresh and freeze-dried samples evidenced a lesser number (10 and 19, respectively); when the temperature raised, the number of identified constituents increased. Statistical analyses highlighted significant differences between almost all aromatic compounds, even if both Principal Component and Hierarchical Cluster analyses differed at 60 and 70 °C and from the other treatments.
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Antifungal Activity and Chemical Composition of Seven Essential Oils to Control the Main Seedborne Fungi of Cucurbits. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10020104. [PMID: 33499094 PMCID: PMC7912402 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10020104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Essential oils represent novel alternatives to application of synthetic fungicides to control against seedborne pathogens. This study investigated seven essential oils for in vitro growth inhibition of the main seedborne pathogens of cucurbits. Cymbopogon citratus essential oil completely inhibited mycelial growth of Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum and Alternaria alternata at 0.6 and 0.9 mg/mL, respectively. At 1 mg/mL, Lavandula dentata, Lavandula hybrida, Melaleuca alternifolia, Laurus nobilis, and two Origanum majorana essential oils inhibited mycelia growth of A. alternata by 54%, 71%, 68%, 36%, 90%, and 74%, respectively. S. cucurbitacearum mycelia growth was more sensitive to Lavandula essential oils, with inhibition of ~74% at 1 mg/mL. To determine the main compounds in these essential oils that might be responsible for this antifungal activity, they were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). C. citratus essential oil showed cirtal as its main constituent, while L. dentata and L. nobilis essential oils showed eucalyptol. The M. alternifolia and two O. majorana essential oils had terpinen-4-ol as the major constituent, while for L. hybrida essential oil, this was linalool. Thus, in vitro, these essential oils can inhibit the main seedborne fungi of cucurbits, with future in vivo studies now needed to confirm these activities.
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Marchioni I, Pistelli L, Ferri B, Copetta A, Ruffoni B, Pistelli L, Najar B. Phytonutritional Content and Aroma Profile Changes During Postharvest Storage of Edible Flowers. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:590968. [PMID: 33329654 PMCID: PMC7731506 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.590968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Edible flowers are niche horticultural products, routinely used as cooking ingredients in the food industry. Currently, new species are required with the aim of enlarging the number of species with a long shelf-life, healthy nutraceutical compounds, and new fragrance and tastes. Ageratum houstonianum Mill, Tagetes lemmonii A. Gray, Salvia dorisiana Standl, and Pelargonium odoratissimum (L.) L'Hér "Lemon" were selected for their different morphological characteristics and color. Fresh flowers were analyzed to characterize their phytonutritional content and aroma profile. Postharvest was determined up to 6 days of cold storage at 4°C in transparent polypropylene boxes. Visual quality and cellular membrane damage were observed. The relative content of different antioxidant constituents (e.g., polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid), nutritional compounds (soluble sugars, crude proteins), the antioxidant scavenging activity, and the volatile profile were determined and correlated to the quality of shelf-life of the different species. The yellow T. lemmonii freshly picked flowers showed the highest ascorbic acid and flavonoids content, which was maintained during the cold storage, as well as the best visual quality. Limited changes in metabolites were detected in the light blue A. houstonianum during postharvest, although the visual quality is severely compromised. Magenta S. dorisiana and light pink P. odoratissimum showed similar changes in antioxidant constituents during cold storage. For the first time, the volatile compounds have been identified in the four species. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons are the main class in fresh flowers of A. houstonianum, S. dorisiana, and P. odoratissimum, while monoterpene hydrocarbons are abundant in T. lemmonii. The cold storage influenced mainly P. odoratissimum and S. dorisiana flavor initially dominated by the increase in total monoterpenes at 6 days, reaching a relative content of 90%. Both A. houstonianum and T. lemmonii conserved the prevalence of the same class of constituents in all the analyzed conditions, even though the cold storage influenced the major compound abundance. On the basis of the results, T. lemmonii was the most interesting species with the longest shelf-life due to its phytonutritional and aromatic constituents. Results indicated the peculiar metabolic and physiological attitude of flowers species to cold storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Marchioni
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Pistelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Interdepartmental Research Center NUTRAFOOD “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Copetta
- Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (CREA), Sanremo, Italy
| | - Barbara Ruffoni
- Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (CREA), Sanremo, Italy
| | - Luisa Pistelli
- Interdepartmental Research Center NUTRAFOOD “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Basma Najar
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Abstract
This perspective study addresses the main causes of adverse reactions to foods in humans, by taking into account the main allergic reactions that may occur as a result of food ingestion, as well the main allergens present in food and how their allergenicity change as a result of food preparation. In addition, European legislation on food labeling and novel foods was taken into account. The case study of this perspective is on the potential allergenicity of edible flowers as well as evidence of phytochemistry and toxic compounds and the risk associated with their ingestion. Regarding edible flowers, a key issue to address is if they are safe to consume or not. In the framework of the project “Innovative activities for the development of the cross-border supply chain of the edible flower” (ANTEA), we considered 62 different species and varieties of edible flowers. The results obtained by consulting two databases on allergens, COMPRISE and Allergen Nomenclature, marked two alerts for two species of edible flowers selected in the project. Moreover, based on edible flower consumption, about ten grams per serving, and on their protein content, we can also state that the risk of allergic reactions due to edible flower ingestion is very low.
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Trace Elements in Edible Flowers from Italy: Further Insights into Health Benefits and Risks to Consumers. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25122891. [PMID: 32586028 PMCID: PMC7355664 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25122891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of edible flowers in cooking dates back to ancient times, but recently it is gaining success among the consumers, increasingly attentive to healthy and sustainable foods of high quality, without neglecting taste, flavour, and visual appeal. The present study aims to deepen the knowledge regarding the mineral composition of edible flowers, an aspect not widely investigated in scientific literature. The concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, and Zn have been determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP OES) in flowers belonging to a wide variety of species. The study highlights that some floral species are characterized by significantly higher concentrations of certain trace elements, e.g., the flowers of Acmella oleracea for Mn, those of basil (Ocimum basilicum) and of pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata and C. pepo) for Cu and Sr, and those of orange daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) for Ni. Potentially toxic elements are present at low concentrations, often below the limit of the detection for Cd, Co, Ni, V. In all samples, Cd and Pb are well below the maximum permitted levels in foodstuffs. It can be concluded that the edible flowers analyzed can be considered a good source of essential elements and do not present risks for the consumer health as for the mineral composition.
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Bioactive Compounds and Aroma Profile of Some Lamiaceae Edible Flowers. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9060691. [PMID: 32481758 PMCID: PMC7356345 DOI: 10.3390/plants9060691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Edible flowers are consumed for their appearance, colours, nutritional and healthy properties, but the use is limited by the actual number of the species. Seven edible flowers of the Lamiaceae family (Ocimeae and Mentheae tribes) were investigated: Monarda didyma ‘Fireball’, Nepeta × faassenii ‘Six Hills Giant’, Ocimum basilicum ‘Blue Spice’, O. basilicum ‘Cinnamon’, Ocimum × citriodorum, Salvia discolor, and Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’. Total soluble sugars, proteins, polyphenols, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity were detected. The species of the Mentheae tribe contained higher sugar content than Ocimeae flowers, the opposite with regard to protein content. Ocimeae tribe flowers showed high polyphenols and carotenoids content. The Ocimeae tribe together with two specie of the Mentheae tribe showed an aroma profile dominated by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (58.0% in S. discolor to 77.9% in Ocimum × citriodorum). Oxygenated monoterpenes prevailed in Nepeta and Monarda, also present in the essential oil of this latter species (84.5%). By contrast, Nepeta and S. discolor evidenced non-terpenes as the principal class (41.2% and 77.5%, respectively), while the oxygenated sesquiterpene was the main one in S. microphylla. The two varieties of Ocimum spp. showed oxygenated monoterpenes as the main class of volatiles.
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