Ecdysterone and Turkesterone-Compounds with Prominent Potential in Sport and Healthy Nutrition

The naturally occurring compounds ecdysterone and turkesterone, which are present in plants, including Rhaponticum carthamoides Willd. (Iljin), Spinacia oleracea L., Chenopodium quinoa Willd., and Ajuga turkestanica (Regel) Briq, are widely recognized due to their possible advantages for both general health and athletic performance. The current review investigates the beneficial biological effects of ecdysterone and turkesterone in nutrition, highlighting their roles not only in enhancing athletic performance but also in the management of various health problems. Plant-based diets, associated with various health benefits and environmental sustainability, often include sources rich in phytoecdysteroids. However, the therapeutic potential of phytoecdysteroid-rich extracts extends beyond sports nutrition, with promising applications in treating chronic fatigue, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.

A Study of the Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Potential, and Acute Toxicity of Bulgarian Tanacetum vulgare L. Essential Oil

Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.) is a plant with medicinal properties that has traditionally been used in folk medicine for its anthelmintic, antispasmodic, and choleretic effects, for the treatment of diarrhea and digestive problems, and externally, as an insecticide in veterinary practices. In the current study, we investigated, for the first time, the chemical profile and antioxidant activity of essential oil from a wild population of T. vulgare L. growing in Bulgaria. Common tansy essential oil (EO), which is rich in bicyclic monoterpenes, was obtained using hydrodistillation and characterized by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-seven compounds were identified in Bulgarian tansy EO. Among the major constituents were oxygenated monoterpenes, including compounds such as camphor (25.24%), trans-chrysantenyl acetate (18.35%), cis-verbenol (10.58%), thujone (6.06%), eucaliptol (5.99%), and α-campholenal (5.98%). The analysis results identified the essential oil from T. vulgare L. grown in the western Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria as the camphor chemotype. Furthermore, its antioxidant activity was analyzed using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method and was found to be 605.4 ± 49.3 µmol TE/mL. The essential oil was also tested for single-dose acute toxicity on Wistar rats and was found to be non-toxic by oral administration. The mean lethal dose by intraperitoneal administration was LD50 i.p. = 14.9 g/kg body weight. The results of the conducted study can serve as a basis for the evaluation and subsequent exploration of other pharmacotherapeutic effects of the essential oil obtained from the inflorescences of the Bulgarian species T. vulgare L.

Anti-Adipogenic Activity of Rhaponticum carthamoides and Its Secondary Metabolites

Besides their common use as an adaptogen, Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin. rhizome and its root extract (RCE) are also reported to beneficially affect lipid metabolism. The main characteristic secondary metabolites of RCE are phytoecdysteroids. In order to determine an RCE's phytoecdysteroid profile, a novel, sensitive, and robust high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed and validated. Moreover, a comparative analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of RCE and its secondary metabolites on adipogenesis and adipolysis. The evaluation of the anti-adipogenic and lipolytic effects was performed using human Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome cells, where lipid staining and measurement of released glycerol and free fatty acids were employed. The HPTLC method confirmed the presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), ponasterone A (PA), and turkesterone (TU) in RCE. The observed results revealed that RCE, 20E, and TU significantly reduced lipid accumulation in human adipocytes, demonstrating their anti-adipogenic activity. Moreover, RCE and 20E were found to effectively stimulate basal lipolysis. However, no significant effects were observed with PA and TU applications. Based on our findings, RCE and 20E affect both lipogenesis and lipolysis, while TU only restrains adipogenesis. These results are fundamental for further investigations.

A Study of the Chemical Composition, Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Bulgarian Tanacetum parthenium Essential Oil

BACKGROUND

Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch.Bip. (T. parthenium) is an aromatic perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, also known as feverfew. It is widely distributed in various regions of Europe and other parts of the world. The plant has a rich background in the traditional medicine of many nations and has been used as a remedy for fever, pain, inflammation, asthma, rheumatism, menstrual disorders, etc. Methods: GC-MS analysis was conducted to determine the chemical composition of the isolated essential oil (EO). Using the method proposed by Litchfield and Wilcoxon, the average lethal dose (LD₅₀) of the EO on Wistar rats was determined for two routes of administration: oral (p.o.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.). The subacute toxicity of the EO was also tested by oral administration of a daily dose of 1.0 g/kg body weight (BW) for 28 days. The toxicity of the EO was evaluated by observing and evaluating changes in behavior, body weight, basic hematological and serum biochemical parameters, and histopathological changes of the internal organs.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven volatile organic compounds representing 94.58% of the total oil composition were tentatively detected in the obtained T. parthenium EO. The dominant compounds were camphor (45.47%), trans-chrisantenyl acetate (21.65%), camphene (9.48%), and cis-isogeraniol (5.42%). The results showed that the EO was not toxic when administered in acute oral doses. The acute mean lethal dose for intraperitoneal administration was LD₅₀ i.p. = 2.13 g/kg BW. In the subacute study involving administration of an oral dose of EO for 28 days, there were a number of changes in the hematological and serum biochemical parameters of the blood compared with the control group of animals. However, no symptoms of toxicity, changes in the body weight of the rats, death, or pathological changes in the histological indicators of the examined organs-brain, heart, stomach, liver, spleen and kidney-were found. Extrapolating the results obtained from the rat experiments, we can state that the EO is safe for use in doses below 1 g/kgBW for a period not exceeding one month.

Echinophora tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana-Study of the Histochemical Localization of Essential Oil

BACKGROUND

Echinophora tenuifolia L. subsp. sibthorpiana is a perennial, aromatic plant used in traditional folk medicine and cuisine of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. However, scholars have not fully studied the pharmacological potential of the herb, and the scientific data on this plant species are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) obtained from the aerial parts of E. tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana growing wild in Bulgaria and to perform histochemical analysis.

METHODS

A microscopic histochemical analysis and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry were performed.

RESULTS

The histochemical analysis confirmed the presence of terpenes in the stem and leaf of E. tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana. The phenylpropanoid methyleugenol was identified as the main compound in the EO, representing 48.13% of the total oil composition. There were also found considerable amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons, representing 41.68% of the total EO. Alpha-phellandrene, o-cymene, and β-phellandrene were the most abundant monoterpene hydrocarbons.

CONCLUSION

This is the first histochemical analysis performed on E. tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana. This is the first report of the EO composition from Bulgarian E. tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana, and our results indicate some future possibilities for evaluating of the biological activity of the EO of E. tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana and highlight the potential future use of the EO of this plant species. E. tenuifolia L. subsp. sibthorpiana EO possesses a good potential for use as a biopesticide and repellent an environmentally friendly alternative of synthetic pesticides.

Comparative study of the chemical composition of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. essential oil

Fenugreek is a well-known aromatic plant. Its leaves and seeds are commonly used for their many health benefits and the species is cultivated worldwide. For the first time, essential oils (EOs) from seeds of the Bulgarian and Indian populations were obtained by secondary distillation of hydrolat to extract the residual essential oil therein. They were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the chemical composition of the two samples was compared. Thirty-six compounds were identified and although the results showed some differences in the component composition of the two essential oils, the major constituents identified in both oils were cubenol, γ-n-amylbutyrolactone and palmitic acid. Moreover, oxygenated sesquiterpenes were the predominant fraction in Bulgarian and Indian seeds oils. Information is limited regarding menthol and γ-n-amylbutyrolactone, which were found in the present study in both oils. The performed analysis confirmed the presence of phytol in fenugreek seeds regardless of the extraction method of the essential oil.

Chemical Composition and Histochemical Localization of Essential Oil from Wild and Cultivated Rhaponticum carthamoides Roots and Rhizomes

Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin is not only a source of phytosteroids and flavonoids, but is also source of essential oil (EO). This study evaluated the volatile metabolic constituents and histochemical localization of root and rhizome essential oils (EOs) from R. carthamoides populations wild-grown in Russia and cultivated in Bulgaria. The performed histochemical analysis confirmed the presence of lipophilic substances in the secretory ducts of the examined roots and rhizomes. Both EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and further analyzed by gas chromatography with mass detection. The results showed differences between the chemical compositions of both EOs. Forty-six components were tentatively identified in R. carthamoides oil from the wild population, with β-selinene (4.77%), estragole (6.32%), D-carvone (6.37%), cyperene (8.78%), and ledene oxide (11.52%) being the major constituents. In the EO isolated from cultivated R. carthamoides, twenty-three compounds were tentatively identified, with humulene (7.68%), β-elemene (10.76%), humulene-1,2-epoxide (11.55%), ledene oxide (13.50%), and δ-elemene (19.08%) predominating. This is the first report describing the histolocalization and chemical profile of EO from R. carthamoides cultivated in Bulgaria. Further research on the cultivation of R. carthamoides in Bulgaria would affect the relationship between its chemical composition and pharmacological effects.

Lead content in weight loss food supplements

Introduction: The control and prevention of lead exposure are widely discussed topics that seem to be current health concerns for the next decades. Ingestion of lead into the human body can cause toxicity which can be acute or chronic. Possible sources of lead exposure can be, among others, water, food, drugs, and food supplements. The lead content in drugs is a strictly controlled parameter worldwide. The different Pharmacopoeias (European, British, USA) provide information about the limits for lead in every drug substance and also about the tests that should be performed. Regulation of food supplements does not require obligatory analytical control. Often, these products are not monitored to ensure the quality. At the same time, during the last two decades, the global use of dietary supplements has increased manifold.

Aim: This study aimed to analyse the presence of lead in food supplements used for weight control.

Materials and methods: We have analysed 30 different samples of food supplements for lead content. These supplements are all sold as weight loss products. The method of analysis consists of determination the lead concentration in food supplements using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Results: We found that 4 of the analysed samples provide a lead intake of between 2.339 and 2.88 μg per day. The lead content in the other 26 samples was not significant.

Conclusions: The regulation of food supplements is rather liberal and loose. Often the exact amount of the main ingredients is not properly labeled and the purity of these products is not controlled. Food supplements are used by consumers of different ages and with different medical conditions. Our recommendation is that the lead content should be obligatorily monitored and indicated on the label of every food supplement. This would be especially useful for the prevention and control of lead exposure worldwide.

Comparison between the Biological Active Compounds in Plants with Adaptogenic Properties (Rhaponticum carthamoides, Lepidium meyenii, Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng)

BACKGROUND

In the 1960s, research into plant adaptogens began. Plants with adaptogenic properties have rich phytochemical compositions and have been used by humanity since ancient times. However, it is not still clear whether the adaptogenic properties are because of specific compounds or because of the whole plant extracts. The aim of this review is to compare the bioactive compounds in the different parts of these plants.

METHODS

The search strategy was based on studies related to the isolation of bioactive compounds from Rhaponticum carthamoides, Lepidium meyenii, Eleutherococcus senticosus, and Panax ginseng. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed.

RESULTS

This review includes data from 259 articles. The phytochemicals isolated from Rhaponticum carthamoides, Lepidium meyenii, Eleutherococcus senticosus, and Panax ginseng were described and classified in several categories.

CONCLUSIONS

Plant species have always played an important role in drug discovery because their effectiveness is based on the hundreds of years of experience with folk medicine in different nations. In our view, there is great potential in the near future for some of the phytochemicals found in these plants species to become pharmaceutical agents.

Plant Adaptogens-History and Future Perspectives

Adaptogens are synthetic compounds (bromantane, levamisole, aphobazole, bemethyl, etc.) or plant extracts that have the ability to enhance the body’s stability against physical loads without increasing oxygen consumption. Extracts from Panax ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhaponticum carthamoides, Rhodiola rosea, and Schisandra chinensis are considered to be naturally occurring adaptogens and, in particular, plant adaptogens. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of plant adaptogens in the past and now, as well as to outline the prospects of their future applications. The use of natural adaptogens by humans has a rich history—they are used in recovery from illness, physical weakness, memory impairment, and other conditions. About 50 years ago, plant adaptogens were first used in professional sports due to their high potential to increase the body’s resistance to stress and to improve physical endurance. Although now many people take plant adaptogens, the clinical trials on human are limited. The data from the meta-analysis showed that plant adaptogens could provide a number of benefits in the treatment of chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, and immune protection. In the future, there is great potential to register medicinal products that contain plant adaptogens for therapeutic purposes.

Contemporary genetic structure and postglacial demographic history of the black scorpionfish, Scorpaena porcus, in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas

Understanding the distribution of genetic diversity in the light of past demographic events linked with climatic shifts will help to forecast evolutionary trajectories of ecosystems within the current context of climate change. In this study, mitochondrial sequences and microsatellite loci were analysed using traditional population genetic approaches together with Bayesian dating and the more recent approximate Bayesian computation scenario testing. The genetic structure and demographic history of a commercial fish, the black scorpionfish, Scorpaena porcus, was investigated throughout the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The results suggest that the species recently underwent population expansions, in both seas, likely concomitant with the warming period following the Last Glacial Maximum, 20 000 years ago. A weak contemporaneous genetic differentiation was identified between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. However, the genetic diversity was similar for populations of the two seas, suggesting a high number of colonizers entered the Black Sea during the interglacial period and/or the presence of a refugial population in the Black Sea during the glacial period. Finally, within seas, an east/west genetic differentiation in the Adriatic seems to prevail, whereas the Black Sea does not show any structured spatial genetic pattern of its population. Overall, these results suggest that the Black Sea is not that isolated from the Mediterranean, and both seas revealed similar evolutionary patterns related to climate change and changes in sea level.

Qualification of a sublimation tool applied to the case of metalorganic chemical vapor deposition of In₂O₃ from In(tmhd)₃ as a solid precursor

A solid delivery system consisting of a source canister, a gas management, and temperature controlled enclosure designed and manufactured by Air Liquide Electronics Systems was tested in the context of gas-phase delivery of the In(tmhd)3 solid precursor. The precursor stream was delivered to a thermal metalorganic chemical vapor deposition reactor to quantify deposition yield under various conditions of carrier gas flow and sublimation temperature. The data collected allowed the determination of characteristic parameters such as the maximum precursor flow rate (18.2 mg min(-1) in specified conditions) and the critical mass (defined as the minimum amount of precursor able to attain the maximum flow rate) found to be about 2.4 g, as well as an understanding of the influence of powder distribution inside the canister. Furthermore, this qualification enabled the determination of optimal delivery conditions which allowed for stable and reproducible precursor flow rates over long deposition times (equivalent to more than 47 h of experiment). The resulting In2O3 layers was compared with those elaborated via pulsed liquid injection obtained in the same chemical vapor deposition chamber and under the same deposition conditions.

A cDNA encoding ribosomal protein L3 from the parasitic nematode Toxocara canis

A cDNA encoding the ribosomal (r) protein L3 of the parasitic nematode Toxocara canis was isolated from a library constructed from mRNA of the infective larval stage. The encoded protein has a high degree of similarity to r-protein L3 from other organisms, including mammals, yeast, plants and bacteria. The mRNA encoding r-protein L3 is derived from a single-copy gene, and experimental evidence would suggest that it contains the pan-nematode splice leader sequence at its 5' end and that the gene is interrupted by at least three introns.

Antigen-antibody complexes in experimental infection with Trichinella spiralis and their role in the development of kidney lesions

The kidneys of rats, experimentally infected with Trichinella spiralis were studied by means of light and fluorescent microscopy. The results obtained suggest that this is a case of a proliferative intra- and extracapillary nephritis. Highest intensity of the pathological process was noted between the 30th and 50th day of the infection. The immunofluorescent reaction of kidney glomeruli demonstrated that the immune complexes were located predominantly in the basal membrane and the mesangium. The serological investigation showed that the maximum level of circulating immune complexes existed between 14th and 21st day after the infection.