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Research is presented concerning the investigation of the Terminalia catappa tree as a source of natural pigments for use in food. The extraction, preservation and stability of the tree's pigments are discussed.

Tolerance index and phytoremediation factors of side oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) with recalcitrant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) phenanthrene (PHE), pyrene (PYR), and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and the resulting impact on phenotypic response, were evaluated in sterile conditions with whole plant growing in test-tube cultures with MS medium with PAH and compared with Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), control for this study. PAH mixture of PHE, PYR and BaP (1:1:1 w/w/w) blended with Maya crude oil (1:1 w/w), final concentration of 1 500 mg kg−1 was used. After 40 days, BaP removal, in the presence of Maya crude was superior compared with PHE and PYR removal. Although the presence of PAH negatively affects the phenotypic response of the plants; sterile conditions experiments were helpful to evaluate phytoremediation factors to elucidate some important questions regarding phytoremediation mechanisms; in this study, B. curtipendula was able to phytostabilizate BaP associated to a significant hydrocarbon removal (57.4%) with high root accumulation but attenuated transport to stems, here reported as translocation factor. To our knowledge, this is the first time that quantifiable phytoremediation factors were used to evaluate the tolerance and removal capacity of a native semi-arid climate plant which is probably able to phytoremediate hydrocarbon contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of a hydrocarbon mixture (HCM) of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and Maya crude oil on germination, growth and survival of four grasses (Bouteloua curtipendula, Cenchrus ciliaris, Echinochloa crusgalli and Rhynchelytrum repens) was studied and compared to a control (Festuca arundinacea) under in vitro conditions. The species were cultured on MS medium with different HCM initial concentrations. Germination was not affected for any assayed concentration; however, the length of the stems and roots decreased when HCM increased and the survival of the four species also diminished. Except for F. arundinacea, a direct link between hydrocarbon concentration and plant survival was observed. In vitro studies are clean and easy to handle techniques allowing isolation of the plant activity from that derived from associations with microorganisms in non-sterile cultures. To our knowledge, this is the first work towards phytoremediation assisted by in vitro plant cultivation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The in vitro cultures of Vachellia farnesiana (L) Wight & Arn. have demonstrated cytotoxic activity through callus extract on the HeLa cell line. Explants excised from in vitro-grown seedlings from seeds of two different locations were inoculated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) culture media containing various concentrations of N-6 benzyladenine (BA) or kinetin with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Optimal efficiency in friable callus induction (100%) was achieved in leaf explants cultured on MS media containing 2.32 µM BA + 13.57 µM 2,4-D. Plant tissues (callus and leaf) were extracted and subjected to quantitative phytochemical analysis, revealing the highest total alkaloid and phenolic content in leaf extracts from Queretaro adult specimens (339.5 ± 20.9 mg atropine equivalents (AE) per g dry extract (DE) and 158.4 ± 12.5 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per g DE, respectively). In contrast, callus cultures exhibited significantly higher total triterpene content (356-381 mg ursolic acid equivalents (UAE) per g DE) compared to leaf extracts (208-243 mg UAE/g DE). Both leaf and callus extracts displayed cytotoxic activity against the HeLa cell line, with a significantly lower half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) for leaf extracts (28-32 µg/mL) compared to callus cultures (43-66 µg/mL), suggesting that alkaloids were primarily responsible for the cytotoxic activity. Furthermore, this study provides valuable insights into the controlled production of bioactive compounds with cytotoxic activity, with callus serving as a rich source., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in the publication., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Prediabetes is defined as a state of moderate hyperglycemia. Here, we used freeze-dried seeds of Stenocereus stellatus (white tunillo) as a possible therapeutic strategy for the treatment of prediabetes. In the aqueous extract of freeze-dried seeds of white tunillo, polyphenols were identified using the Folin-Ciocalteu technique, separated by UPLC and analyzed by infrared spectrophotometry. Five well-defined peaks with good resolution were observed in the chromatogram of the aqueous extract obtained by UPLC. Two of these peaks corresponded to polyphenols with similarity to quercetin and rutin. The subchronic oral administration of freeze-dried seeds of white tunillo for 14 days in a prediabetes model in female Wistar rats reversed hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance. Treatment with the freeze-dried seeds reversed the decrease in the hepatic expression of Akt, eNOS, and p-eNOSSer 1177 but did not reverse the decrease in MnSOD, catalase, and GPx1. No changes in the expression of GPx4 and p-AktSer 473 were observed in the pathological state or with the treatment but there was an increase in the expression and activity of eNOS. The bioactive compounds present in the freeze-dried seeds of Stenocereus stellatus could provide guidelines for studying the mechanisms of action through which they reverse signs of prediabetes.

Buddleja cordata cell suspension cultures could be used as a tool for investigating the capabilities of this species to tolerate heavy metals (HMs) and for assessing the effects of HMs on the accumulation of phenolic compounds in this species. It grows in a wide range of habitats in Mexico, including ultramafic soils, and mobilizes some HMs in the soil. The mobilization of these HMs has been associated with phenolic substances. In addition, this species is used in Mexican traditional medicine. In the present study, a B. cordata cell suspension culture was grown for 18 days in a culture medium enriched with Cu (0.03-0.25 mM), Fe (0.25-1.5 mM), Mn (0.5-3.0 mM), or Zn (0.5-2.0 mM) to determine the effects of these HMs on growth and HM accumulation. We also assessed the effects of the HMs on phenolic compound accumulation after 1 and 18 days of HM exposure. Cells were able to grow at almost all tested HM concentrations and accumulated significant amounts of each HM. The highest accumulation levels were as follows: 1160 mg Cu kg -1 , 6845 mg Fe kg -1 , 3770 mg Mn kg -1 , and 6581 mg Zn kg -1 . Phenolic compound accumulation was affected by the HM exposure time and corresponded to each HM and its concentration. Future research should analyze whole plants to determine the capabilities of Buddleja cordata to accumulate abnormally high amounts of HM and to evaluate the physiological impact of changes in the accumulation of phenolic compounds.