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Kalanchoe delagoensis Eckl. & J.Zeyh. (Crassulaceae, mother-of-millions) is a plant endemic to Madagascar which was introduced to, and became invasive in, Australia. The stem-boring weevil Osphilia tenuipes Fairmaire (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) is a natural enemy of K. delagoensis in Madagascar. A laboratory culture of this insect was established from field collections in the south of Madagascar, and its potential as a biocontrol agent for Australia was assessed under natural field conditions in Madagascar. The host range of O. tenuipes (open and closed multiple-choice tests, and a multi-generational trial) was examined with seven Kalanchoe spp. and one Echeveria sp. These trials demonstrated that O. tenuipes was oligophagous. However, oviposition and development of immature stages through to adults were recorded on two species of interest for Australia, Kalanchoe spathulata DC. and Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln (Crassulaceae). The multi-generational trials showed that O. tenuipes completed five generations on K. spathulata and K. blossfeldiana. Emergence and survival of adults on controls (K. delagoensis) and the three species tested were significantly different. Osphilia tenuipes adult weights were not significantly different (for species and generations). Adult survival after 30 days was significantly higheron K. delagoensis compared to K. blossfeldiana and K. spathulata. The weevil significantly reduced the numbers of phyllodes and bulbils and overall plant biomass of K. delagoensis. It was evident that O. tenuipes is a damaging, oligophagous insect with significant promise as a potential biocontrol agent for K. delagoensis in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rapid rise of microbial resistance to traditional antibiotics has caused grave concerns for the treatment of infectious diseases. This serious problem increases the demand for significant plant-based antibacterial and antimicrobial drugs. Kalanchoe pinnata is one of the plants that has had significant antibacterial effects due to the presence of a wide range of bioactive compounds, so it could be an effective substitute for the current synthetic antibiotics. The study aimed to evaluate the anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties of a methanolic extract of Kalanchoe pinnata leaves. Materials and Methods: The preliminary phytochemical screening was performed using standard biochemical assays. The anti-bacterial activity was determined against multidrugresistant E. coli and S. aureus using the well-diffusion method. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and ferric ion reducing antioxidant potential assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Results: The methanolic extract of Kalanchoe pinnata leaves showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, steroids, phenol, quinones, and proteins. The remarkable anti-bacterial activities were displayed against multidrug-resistant E. coli and S. aureus, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 50 mg/mL and 12.5 mg/mL, respectively. The significant antioxidant activity was exhibited in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and ferric ion reducing antioxidant potential assays. Conclusion: The results of this investigation suggested that the Kalanchoe pinnata extract may be useful as an alternative for antibiotics and may have pharmacological promise in the treatment of many diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant polyphenols possess diverse bioactivities, including antiviral activity against a broad spectrum of viruses. Here, we investigated the virucidal properties of an Kalanchoe daigremontiana extract using an in vitro model of human herpesvirus type 1 (HHV-1) infection. Chromatographic analysis indicated that the extract of Kalanchoe daigremontiana is rich in various compounds, among which are polyphenols with virucidal activity confirmed in the literature. We found that Kalanchoe daigremontiana extract shows an ability to prevent HHV-1 infection by direct inhibition of the virus attachment, penetration, and blocking of infection when used in pretreatment or post-entry treatment. Our results indicate that Kalanchoe daigremontiana extract may be a good candidate drug against HHV-1, both as a substance to prevent infection and to treat an already ongoing infection. Our findings illustrate that Kalanchoe daigremontiana could be a potential new candidate for clinical consideration in the treatment of HHV-1 infection alone or in combination with other therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts from Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi were utilized to green-synthesize silver nanoparticles (Kf1-, Kf2-, and Kf3-AgNPs). The Kf1-, Kf2-, and Kf3-AgNPs were characterized by spectroscopy and microscopy techniques. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs was studied against bacteria strains, utilizing the microdilution assay. The DPPH and H2O2 assays were considered to assess the antioxidant activity of AgNPs. The results revealed that Kf1-, Kf2-, and Kf3-AgNPs exhibit an average diameter of 39.9, 111, and 42 nm, respectively. The calculated ζ-potential of Kf1-, Kf2-, and Kf3-AgNPs were −20.5, −10.6, and −7.9 mV, respectively. The UV-vis analysis of the three samples demonstrated characteristic absorption bands within the range of 350–450 nm, which confirmed the formation of AgNPs. The FTIR analysis of AgNPs exhibited a series of bands from 3500 to 750 cm−1, related to the presence of extracts on their surfaces. SEM observations unveiled that Kf1- and Kf2-AgNPs adopted structural arrangements related to nano-popcorns and nanoflowers, whereas Kf3-AgNPs were spherical in shape. It was determined that treatment with Kf1-, Kf2-, and Kf3-AgNPs was demonstrated to inhibit the growth of E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa in a dose-dependent manner (50–300 μg/mL). Within the same range, treatment with Kf1-, Kf2-, and Kf3-AgNPs decreased the generation of DPPH (IC50 57.02–2.09 μg/mL) and H2O2 (IC50 3.15–3.45 μg/mL) radicals. This study highlights the importance of using inorganic nanomaterials to improve the biological performance of plant extracts as an efficient nanotechnological approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive alien species frequently possess seed related attributes that contribute to invasion success, such as environmental tolerance, numerous seeds, longevity, rapid germination, and high germination rates, among others. These traits can enhance propagule pressure, thus having important implications for management. The genus Kalanchoe contains species widely used in the horticultural trade, but a few have become invasive around the world. We evaluated the performance of Kalanchoe delagoensis seeds of different age to determine the probability of generating a seed bank under dark-light conditions and constant/alternating temperature to assess photoblastic response and seed tolerance to temperature. Seeds were sown following a factorial experiment that comprised four seed ages (5, 8, 11 and 13 months after collection), two temperature conditions (25 °C constant and 16/25 °C alternating), and two light conditions (light and darkness) resulting in 16 experimental treatments with 10 replicates each and 50 seeds per replicate. Seeds were positive photoblastic with no germination under darkness conditions. Final germination percentage ranged from 1.8% to 49.4% among treatments but decreased with seed age and the interaction with temperature. Mean germination time ranged from 4.5 to 10.9 days among treatments. Results suggest that K. delagoensis seeds germinate rapidly, and have a neutral response to the 16/25 °C alternating temperature in germinability. Seed viability rapidly decreases within the first year after the reproductive season, suggesting that this species would only form a transient seed bank. Avoiding inflorescence maturation and covering or burying seeds will contribute to the depletion of the seed bank over the short term and could provide adequate control of invasive K. delagoensis populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-based nanoparticles offer sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives to conventional methods, promising antibacterial properties in the face of antibiotic resistance and addressing global health concerns. Five urine and stool samples were collected from the Benin Medical Centre in Benin City, Edo State, and sent to the Wellspring University Research Laboratory for microbiological analysis. Carica papaya and Bryophyllum pinnatum were used for fresh utilization by washing, weighing, and crushing their leaves, then mixing them with distilled water and heating at 85 °C and 60 °C for 60 minutes. Silver and copper nanoparticles (AgNPs and CuNPs) were synthesized using standard procedures. The NPs were preliminary validated by visual detection of color changes and characterized using a UV-visible spectrophotometer at 300 nm and Fourier transform infrared. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of plant-mediated NPs was investigated using five isolates: S. aureus, B. alvei, H. pylori, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of plant-mediated NPs was investigated using five clinical strains displaying multiple resistance to antibiotics: S. aureus, B. alvei, H. pylori, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli. The agar-well diffusion method showed inhibition of the isolates by plant-mediated NPs but no inhibition by the plant extract alone. The study indicates that plant-mediated NPs exhibit promising antimicrobial activity, promoting sustainability and eco-friendliness, but further research is needed to assess their safety and efficacy in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bryophyllum pinnatum (BP) is a medicinal plant used to treat many conditions when taken as a leaf juice, leaves in capsules, as an ethanolic extract, and as herbal tea. These preparations have been chemically analyzed except for decoctions derived from boiled green leaves. In preparation for a clinical trial to validate BP tea as a treatment for kidney stones, we used NMR and MS analyses to characterize the saturation kinetics of the release of metabolites. During boiling of the leaves, (a) the pH decreased to 4.8 within 14 min and then stabilized; (b) regarding organic acids, citric and malic acid were released with maximum release time (tmax) = 35 min; (c) for glycoflavonoids, quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (Q-3O-ArRh), myricetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (M-3O-ArRh), kappinatoside, myricitrin, and quercitrin were released with tmax = 5–10 min; and (d) the total phenolic content (TPC) and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) reached a tmax at 55 min and 61 min, respectively. In summary, 24 g of leaves boiled in 250 mL of water for 61 min ensures a maximal release of key water-soluble metabolites, including organic acids and flavonoids. These metabolites are beneficial for treating kidney stones because they target oxidative stress and inflammation and inhibit stone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Kalanchoideae is one of three subfamilies within Crassulaceae and contains four genera. Despite previous efforts, the phylogeny of Kalanchoideae remains inadequately resolved with persistent issues including low support, unstructured topologies and polytomies. This study aimed to address two central objectives: (1) resolving the pending phylogenetic questions within Kalanchoideae by using organelle-scale 'barcodes' (plastomes) and nuclear data; and (2) investigating interspecific diversity patterns among Kalanchoideae plastomes. Methods To explore the plastome evolution in Kalanchoideae, we newly sequenced 38 plastomes representing all four constituent genera (Adromischus , Cotyledon , Kalanchoe and Tylecodon). We performed comparative analyses of plastomic features, including GC and gene contents, gene distributions at the IR (inverted repeat) boundaries, nucleotide divergence, plastomic tRNA (pttRNA) structures and codon aversions. Additionally, phylogenetic inferences were inferred using both the plastomic dataset (79 genes) and nuclear dataset (1054 genes). Key Results Significant heterogeneities were observed in plastome lengths among Kalanchoideae, strongly correlated with LSC (large single copy) lengths. Informative diversities existed in the gene content at SSC/IRa (small single copy/inverted repeat a), with unique patterns individually identified in Adromischus leucophyllus and one major Kalanchoe clade. The ycf1 gene was assessed as a shared hypervariable region among all four genera, containing nine lineage-specific indels. Three pttRNAs exhibited unique structures specific to Kalanchoideae and the genera Adromischus and Kalanchoe. Moreover, 24 coding sequences revealed a total of 41 lineage-specific unused codons across all four constituent genera. The phyloplastomic inferences clearly depicted internal branching patterns in Kalanchoideae. Most notably, by both plastid- and nuclear-based phylogenies, our research offers the first evidence that Kalanchoe section Eukalanchoe is not monophyletic. Conclusions This study conducted comprehensive analyses on 38 newly reported Kalanchoideae plastomes. Importantly, our results not only reconstructed well-resolved phylogenies within Kalanchoideae, but also identified highly informative unique markers at the subfamily, genus and species levels. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of the evolutionary history of Kalanchoideae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sistemas de vedação que proporcionam maior permeabilidade aos gases podem favorecer o desenvolvimento de plantas cultivadas in vitro. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia de um sistema de vedação de baixo custo que permite diferentes taxas de trocas gasosas [TTCO2] para promover o crescimento in vitro de mãe-de-mil (Kalanchoe delagoensis). Segmentos nodais de K. delagoensis foram desinfetados em hipoclorito de sódio (2,5%) e inoculados em fracos de cultura contendo meio MS, vedados com tampas rígidas de polipropileno com uma (1M; TTCO2 21 μL L−1 s−1) ou duas (2M; TTCO2 25 μL L−1 s−1) membranas permeáveis a gases. No controle, os frascos de cultura foram vedados com tampas rígidas de polipropileno sem membrana (0M; TTCO2 14 μL L−1 s−1). Após 45 dias de cultivo, parâmetros de crescimento foram avaliados. Plantas mantidas em frascos de cultura com tampas 0M e 1M tiveram aumento significativo no comprimento total da planta, raiz principal, parte aérea e número de nós quando comparadas ao sistema de vedação 2M. O número de folhas e plântulas ao longo da margem foliar foi 35,52%% e 43,69% maior nas plantas cultivadas em frascos de cultura com sistema de vedação 1M. Concluindo, sistemas de vedação que permitem taxas de troca gasosa de até 21 μL L−1 s −1 (0M e 1M) proporcionaram o maior desenvolvimento in vitro de mãe-de-mil.

Plants of the genus Kalanchoe are the most frequently purchased potted plants because of their decorative qualities and easy cultivation. Modern commercial plants have unique shapes that are usually not genetically determined; hence, in vitro cultures are used to propagate such specimens. The efficiency of regeneration is significantly affected by the type of explant used when that explant was previously located on one of several parts of a complex plant organ. The study aimed to investigate the influence of the topophysical location of collected explants on the regeneration efficiency of adventitious shoots. Various regeneration pathways were observed in the in vitro micropropagation of Kalanchoe daigremontiana leaf fragments, i.e., direct and indirect organogenesis from the callus stage. The results show a dependent relationship between the location of the collected explant and its regenerative potential. The most remarkable regenerative capacity of K. daigremontiana was found in leaf blade fragments taken from the middle and proximal zones. In addition, the explants collected from the marginal zone of the leaf blade were notably more valuable than those from the part located near the midrib. The research results indicate that the growth and development of new seedlings propagated vegetatively with the in vitro method depends on their location on the mother plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural dwellers explore Bryophyllumpinnatum and Rauvolfiavomitoria for treating neonatal infections. The antibacterial activities of medicinal plant biofractions were evaluated against multidrug-resistant Group B Streptococcus (GBS) strains causing neonatal sepsis. Pulverized plant leaves were extracted with different solvents for primary extraction and subjected to column chromatography and phytochemical analysis. A broth microdilution assay to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) was performed against multidrug-resistant GBS strains. Duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect ermB and tetO-resistant genes in 10 different GBS strains that were resistant to both erythromycin and tetracycline. The data obtained was analyzed using Spearman rank correlation and ANOVA. The results obtained from this study showed that the selected plants have concentration-dependent activity against GBS. The ethanol biofraction of R. vomitoria was the most active, with an MIC value between 12.5 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL and an MBC value between 25 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL. It was followed by the methanol biofraction of B. pinnatum, which had an MIC value between 50 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL on 32 of the 35 strains that were studied. The N-hexane and aqueous biofractions were the least active. Also, ermB and tetO genes were present in all 10 GBS strains. These findings indicate that B. pinnatum and R. vomitoria could serve as potential alternatives for treating neonatal sepsis caused by GBS. This study examined the assertion of the effectiveness of medicinal herbs in treating newborn sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The evaluation of the correlations between antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of methanol leaf extracts of three Nigerian endemic plants, Spondias mombin, Carica papaya and Kalanchoe crenata, was carried out. Their constituent phytochemicals were identified by HPLC–DAD fingerprinting. The antioxidant activity as typified by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS·+) and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activities were evaluated. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of the extracts was also determined. Results: The extracts contained appreciable amounts of the flavonoids, quercetin and kaempferol. The extracts of Spondias mombin, Carica papaya and Kalanchoe crenata showed concentration-dependent inhibitory activities against DPPH· and ABTS·+ with IC50 of 43.29 ± 0.443 µg/mL, 59.27 ± 0.644 µg/mL and 80.20 ± 0.414 µg/mL; 25.43 ± 0.325 (µg/mL), 39.84 ± 0.163 µg/mL and 59.02 ± 0.376 (µg/mL), respectively. The IC50 for the NO scavenging activities of the Spondias mombin, Carica papaya and Kalanchoe crenata extracts were 41.99 ± 0.217 µg/mL, 50.44 ± 0.281 µg/mL and 60.12 ± 0.512 µg/mL, respectively. The IC50 for the inhibitory effects on AChE was 53.24 ± 0.327 µg/mL, 60.95 ± 0.290 µg/m and 70.5 ± 0.426 µg/mL, respectively. The effectiveness of the plant in all the experimental tests was in the following order: S. mombin > C. papaya > K. crenata. The total flavonoid and total phenolic contents have extremely significant positive correlations with the antioxidant activities and AChE inhibitory activity. The correlation coefficients (r2) of DPPH scavenging activity and NO scavenging activity with the AChE inhibitory activity were 0.8295 µg/mL and 0.7337 µg/mL, respectively (P < 0.0001). The molecular docking and pharmacokinetic analyses on some constituent phytochemicals showed that quercetin, kaempferol, ferulic acid, leucocyanidin, gallic acid and isorhamnetin fulfilled the requirements for an anti-Alzheimer drug. Conclusions: The results suggest that the plant species provide a significant source of secondary metabolites that can act as natural antioxidants and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which will be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Cocor Bebek (Kalanchoe pinnata) leaves in wound cleaning for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and compare it with the use of NaCl solution. Diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications, such as DFU, pose a global health problem with increasing prevalence. Given the escalating occurrence of DFU, timely and effective treatment is crucial to prevent severe complications, including amputation. This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group and was conducted at Rumah Luka Surabaya, Indonesia. The sample comprised 40 respondents with DFU, divided into an intervention group (using Cocor Bebek leaves) and a control group (using NaCl solution). Respondents' characteristics, including age, sex, occupation, duration of diabetes, and other factors, were assessed to understand their impact on the response to treatment. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in DFU wound healing in the intervention group after using Cocor Bebek leaves (p<0.05), along with reduced scores on Bates Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT) indicators such as wound edge, tunnel, and necrotic tissue type. Conversely, the control group using NaCl solution also exhibited significant improvement in wound healing (p<0.05), with decreased scores on indicators such as the amount of necrotic tissue and the quantity of exudate. This study underscores the potential of Cocor Bebek leaves in aiding wound healing in DFU, evident from clinical improvements and reduced BWAT scores. However, further research and clinical trials are needed to comprehensively support these findings and understand the mechanism of action, as well as the safety of using Cocor Bebek leaves in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysmenorrhea affects women throughout their reproductive years but there has been a lack of effective and well-tolerated treatment options. Pain symptoms mainly result from inflammatory processes and increased contractile activity in the myometrium. The reported use of Bryophyllum pinnatum preparations against inflammation and pain in ethnomedicine as well as current pharmacological data on their inhibition of myometrial contractility led us to hypothesize that this medicinal plant might be a new treatment option for dysmenorrhea. In the first part of the present work, clinical, in vivo, and in vitro studies on the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory, as well as on myometrium relaxing properties of B. pinnatum are reviewed. In the second part, cases of five women with dysmenorrhea who were tentatively treated with a B. pinnatum product are described. The review revealed thirty-three experimental in vivo and in vitro studies, but no clinical study, reporting anti-nociceptive and antiinflammatory effects of B. pinnatum extracts and compounds in a wide range of conditions. Moreover, sixteen publications on smooth muscle contractility revealed relaxing effects. The latter consisted of clinical evidence, as well as of in vivo and in vitro data. The evidence reviewed therefore provided a rational basis for the use of B. pinnatum in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. We subsequently set out to tentatively treat patients with a well-tolerated B. pinnatum product that is registered (without indication) and commonly used in obstetrics and gynecology in Switzerland. All five treated patients reported a reduction in pain symptoms and 4 out of 5 indicated a reduced intake of painkillers during menstruation. Taken together, the reviewed information on the pharmacological properties and clinical evidence of B. pinnatum extracts and compounds as well as the outcomes of all five patients in the case series support our hypothesis in favor of B. pinnatum as a new, well-tolerated therapeutic approach for dysmenorrhea. Prospective clinical studies are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kalanchoe pinnata is a species widely used in traditional medicine in Latin America and southern Africa. This species has been reported to have different activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic, the latter being related to its flavonoid content. The aim of this study was to contribute to the standardization of the aqueous extract of flowers from Kalanchoe pinnata. Purification of chemical markers was carried out by centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC). Stability tests under stress conditions were conducted for the extract by using the chromatographic profiles analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array detection (UPLC-PDA) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole-time of flight–mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS-QTOF), with quantification of flavonoids by a validated UPLC-PDA method. Physicochemical variables of the plant material were within the limits established by official guides. Thirteen flavonoids present in the extract were identified, the major compounds being quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside and quercetin 3-O-D-glucuronide, purified by CPC. A range of total flavonoids for the extract from 8–13% was determined. Finally, through stability tests, it was observed that the extract was stable in most conditions but evidenced moderate degradations upon acid and basic hydrolysis. Through qualitative and quantitative chemical characterizations, it was possible to chemically standardize the aqueous extract of flowers from K. pinnata, with a high content of flavonoids, under parameters required by the WHO and pharmacopoeias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial leaf blight (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae) is a significant rice disease. Aqueous crude extracts of Kalanchoe pinnata were shown to induce rice resistance against the disease. This study aims at testing the disease-reducing effects of K. pinnata leaf extracts using the liquid-liquid extraction method with three different solvents (dichloromethane, methanol, and water). This serves as a basis to select appropriate extracts for effective disease control. Three concentrations (1,1.5, and 1%) of each extract were tested using seed soaking. The extracts did not show adverse effects on seed germination and seedling growth. Methanol extracts showed significantly different effects compared to those of the untreated control. The involvement of induced resistance in the disease reduction was shown through activities of the four defense-related and antioxidant enzymes, i.e., peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL). Using 1% methanol extract, activities of POX and CAT involved in hydrogen peroxide production in rice tissues increased 1-4 days after pathogen inoculation (DAI) and remained at high levels until 6 DAI. Activities of PPO and PAL involved in resistance signaling pathways significantly increased after pathogen inoculation. Activities of the four enzymes generally increased after pathogen inoculation and reached higher levels with extract applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composting is recognized as a sustainable waste management strategy. However, little is known about green waste, and specifically rose waste, degradation patterns during composting. This study aimed (1) to gain insight in the underlying decomposition patterns during rose waste composting and (2) to identify co-metabolisms of ligneous material. Five different compost mixtures were tested ranging from pure rose waste to mixtures with tomato waste, kalanchoe waste or mature compost added. Samples were taken during a six-month experiment and analyzed by pyrolysis-GC/MS. The temporal trends in the relative abundance of 10 different compound groups were measured. Lignin and aliphatic compounds together accounted for ≥ 50% of the quantified pyrolysis products, but with changing contributions during composting. The relative abundance of polysaccharides and terpenes strongly decreased with more than 60% in the first 2 months. The simultaneous decrease in relative abundance of lignin and polysaccharides during initial composting phase indicated co-metabolism of lignin. The results from this study showed that while the presence of lignin is commonly regarded as a challenge in composting, it actually undergoes degradation through distinct mechanisms at the various composting stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kalanchoe, a perennial succulent plant standing between 3 to 5 feet tall, possesses distinctive characteristics. It features long hollow stems, often referred to as “air plants,” along with fleshy dark green leaves that are notable for their scalloped edges adorned with a touch of red. The plant also showcases pendulous bell-shaped blooms, adding to its visual appeal. In terms of botany, the two main Latin names used to identify this plant are Bryophyllum pinnatum and Kalanchoe pinnatum, along with several synonymous names. Extensive literature analysis has been conducted to explore the medicinal and phytochemical properties of this plant. The research has uncovered a wide range of chemical components present in the plant, falling into various categories such as phenolics, aliphatic compounds, glycosides, steroids, diterpenoidal lactones, alkaloids, phenols, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, and organic salts. Studies have revealed that this plant possesses diverse pharmacological properties, including but not limited to wound healing activity, anti-lithiatic effects, anti-inflammatory properties, anti-tumour activity, anti-viral properties, anti-pyretic effects, antimutagenic activity, anti-hypertensive properties, anti-ulcer effects, anti-diabetic properties and insecticidal activity. The plant exhibits a promising array of potential applications in the field of medicine and natural remedies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the changes in hepatic function indices in ulcerated rats pretreated with P. americana seed (PAM) and B. pinnatum leaf (BPI) ethyl acetate fraction. The study consisted of fifty (50) male wistar rats divided into 10 groups of five animals each as follows: The groups 1-5 were designated normal control (NC), ulcer control (UC), Omeprazole 20mgkg-1 (OMEP), PAM and BPI respectively. Binary mixtures of PAM and BPI were pretreated to groups 6-10 in the ratios PAM + BPI (1:1), PAM + BPI (1:2), PAM + BPI (1:3), PAM + BPI (2:1) and PAM + BPI (3:1) respectively. Rats in groups 4 - 10 were pre-treated for 21 days with 400 mgKg-1 body weight/day of single or binary mixtures of the fraction by intubation. Gastric ulcer was induced in rats of group 2-10 on 22nd day by administration of indomethacin (30mg/kg body weight) in a single dose. Results show that administration of PAM, PAM+BPI (1:1), and PAM+BPI (3:1) resulted in the elevation of AST and ALT activity; while ALT, AST activity, and globulin concentration were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in OMEP, BPI, PAM+BPI (1:2) PAM+BPI (2:1), PAM+BPI (1:3) and UC, OMEP, PAM, PAM+BPI (1:2), PAM+BPI (2:1) and PAM+BPI (3:1) treated groups respectively. Also, serum albumin concentration and albumin/globulin ratio were increased in all groups exposed to indomethacin except for BPI and PAM+BPI (1:3) groups. The present study demonstrated that pre-treatment of the animals with binary combinations of PAM+BPI (1:1), PAM+BPI (3:1), and indomethacin may result in significant derangement of liver function and histopathological structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the genus Kalanchoe have a long history of therapeutic use in ethnomedicine linked to their remarkable healing properties. Several species have chemical and anatomical similarities, often leading to confusion when they are used in folk medicine. This review aims to provide an overview and discussion of the reported traditional uses, botanical aspects, chemical constituents, and pharmacological potential of the Kalanchoe species. Published scientific materials were collected from the PubMed and SciFinder databases without restriction regarding the year of publication through April 2023. Ethnopharmacological knowledge suggests that these species have been used to treat infections, inflammation, injuries, and other disorders. Typically, all parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes either as crude extract or juice. Botanical evaluation can clarify species differentiation and can enable correct identification and validation of the scientific data. Flavonoids are the most common classes of secondary metabolites identified from Kalanchoe species and can be correlated with some biological studies (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potential). This review summarizes several topics related to the Kalanchoe genus, supporting future studies regarding other unexplored research areas. The need to conduct further studies to confirm the popular uses and biological activities of bioactive compounds is also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sustainable and facile method was used to synthesize eco-friendly and reusable CuS@Fe3O4 nanoparticles by kalanchoe plant extract. The ability of synthesized catalyst was examined for photocatalytic degradation of yellow 3G. The FESEM and BET images revealed uniform spherical and mesoporous nanostructures with an average size of 72 nm. XRD results showed the presence of both, Fe3O4 and CuS crystals. FTIR spectra in the range of 400–4000 cm−1 showed several peaks which belonged to Fe–O and Cu–S tensile vibrations. The VSM results showed that it kept its magnetic property even after adding kalanchoe extract to the photocatalyst. The PL spectra elucidated that CuS@Fe3O4/Kalanchoe has more efficient photocatalytic performance than CuS and CuS @ Fe3O4. Conditions such as pH, catalyst dosage, and initial dye concentrations were optimized at room temperature. Results revealed that the optimum point of different parameters was pH 3, catalyst concentration of 0.3 g/L, and 10 mg/L of yellow 3G. The pollutant's photocatalytic degradation kinetics followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics model with a rate constant (k) of 0.226 min−1 at optimum conditions. Due to the promising activity of CuS@Fe3O4/Kalanchoe in the photodegradation of yellow 3G, it can be proposed to remove other hazardous dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives]This paper aimed to analyze the color changes after long-term use of the Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart(RHSCC), a commonly used tool for flower color testing, and the influence of color change on flower color determination and variety grouping. [Methods]The color determination of the new(unused)and old(used for 10 years)RHSCC was carried out by using chromaticity meter, and color determination and color grouping of 150 varieties of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana were carried out by using chromaticity meter and the new and the old RHSCC respectively, and the advantages and disadvantages of the three color grouping results were analyzed. [Results]There was a significant statistical difference between the old and the new RHSCC at the statistical level(P<0.001), and the difference was positively correlated with the frequency of color block use and the distance of binding holes. The color difference between two sets of RHSCC was less than 1.5 CIE LAB units detectable by human eye except for one of 884 color blocks. Two sets of RHSCC were 100% consistent in the determination of flower color. On the other hand, RHSCC and visual variety grouping had some problems, such as unclear boundary, too large, too small or overlapping. Based on CIE LAB and cluster analysis, 150 varieties were divided into seven color groups: white, yellow, orange, light pink, pink, red and purple red. The rationality of grouping was confirmed in L*a*b*3D color space, a*b* 2D coordinate distribution, boxplot and visual image. [Conclusions]The statistical difference of color change between the new and old RHSCC was beyond the range of human eyes, which doesn't affect the color determination results of visual colorimetric method. However, there were overlapping intervals among the color groups of varieties by visual colorimetry of RHSCC, which was difficult to apply to strict color groups of varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The winter pot kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is an ornamental plant with succulent leaves and clustered flowers in Crassulaceae, widely used as a potted flower or garden decoration. In nature, the bicolor petal is an interesting phenomenon, and breeders have succeeded in cultivating the winter pot kalanchoe with bicolored petals. However, its potential molecular mechanism of pigmentation is poorly understood. This study collected a yellow-red colored winter pot kalanchoe to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying its bicolor formation using the integrative analyses of metabolome and transcriptome. The metabolome results showed that both flavonoid and carotenoid co-existed in the winter pot kalanchoe petals, whereas only anthocyanin accumulation showed significant differences—about nineteen times higher in the red region than that in the yellow region. The differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, and the expression level of biosynthetic genes, including KbCHS, KbCHI, KbF3H, KbDFR, KbANS and KbGTs, were significantly upregulated in the red region. Moreover, transcription factors potentially regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis were predicted, and KbMYB2 and KbbHLH1 might play important roles in positively regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in the red region. The findings reported here provide new insights into the understanding of petal bicolor formation mechanisms and will assist cultivar innovation in winter pot kalanchoe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qualitative phytochemical analysis of ten plants of ethnomedicinal importance in Ofutop clan of Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria was carried out to ascertain the active constituents present in these medicinal plants. The plants studied were ChasmantheradependensJustica carnea, Asystacia gangetic, Starchytarphetacayenensis Eremomastax polysperma, Senna alata, Costus afer, Vernonis amygdalina Lasienthera africana and Bryophyllum pinnatum. Ethanolic extracts of leaves of these different plant species were screened to ascertain the presence of alkaloid, tannin, saponin, cardiac glycoside, flavonoid, phlobatannin, phenol, anthraquinon, terpeniod and steroid. The qualitative study indicated that alkaloid was present in all the plants while saponin was absent in Justica carnea and Asystacia gangetica but present in others. Also, tannin was absent in Asystaciagangetica, Costusafer, Senna alata and Vernonia amygdalina but was presence in others. The study showed that flavonoid was present in all the plant extracts while cardiac glycoside was absent in Justica, but present in others. Steroid was present in eight plants but absent in Abystacia and Vernonia. The extract also showed the presence of eight phytochemicals in Bryophyllum and the absence of phlobatannin and anthraquinon. The different phytochemicals in those plants are said to perform different biological and medicinal activities in humans, which when extracted in large quantity and commercially could be used to synthesize exotic bioactive drugs. It was therefore recommended that, further screening be done on quantitative analysis of the extract in order to give an insight to the pharmaceutical industries for the manufacturing of drugs for the cure and prevention of many diseases of human. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kalanchoe species are succulents occurring in tropical regions. They have many biological and pharmacological properties. In this study, the cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of water and dichloromethane Kalanchoe fractions obtained from ethanol extracts of three Kalanchoe species—K. daigremontiana, K. pinnata, and K. blossfeldiana were estimated. The cytotoxic effect was assessed on human cancer cell lines—ovarian SKOV-3, cervical HeLa, breast MCF-7, and melanoma A375—by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The antimicrobial activity was estimated on selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains and on Candida albicans. The phytochemical analysis of selected Kalanchoe extracts was conducted by LC-QTOF-MS. The obtained results showed that the water fraction of K. blossfeldiana was active both on the tested cancer cells (IC50 values were 28.28 ± 2.76 and 32.51 ± 0.69 µg/mL on HeLa and SKOV-3, respectively) and bacteria strains (MIC values were 16 and 32 µg/mL on S. epidermidis and S. aureus, respectively). The water fraction of K. pinnata also had a significant effect on S. epidermidis and S. aureus, with MIC values of 32 and 64 µg/mL, respectively. The water fraction of K. blossfeldiana triggered a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase in the SKOV-3 and HeLa cells. This fraction did not significantly increase cellular oxidative stress level. The DPPH and ABTS assays revealed that the water fraction of K. blossfeldiana had a strong antioxidant effect (IC50 was 9.44 ± 0.06 and 3.17 ± 0.1 µg/mL, respectively). The phytochemical analysis of the extracts of K. blossfeldiana and K. pinnata revealed the presence of at least 218 main components. The most frequently occurring were flavonol glycosides (31 metabolites), phenylpropanoids (13 metabolites), gallic acid derivatives (13 compounds), benzoic acid derived compounds (14 metabolites), and acyclic alcohol glycosides (16 compounds). In addition, proanthocyanidins were detected mainly in K. blossfeldiana. The study indicates that the water fraction of K. blossfeldiana has significant biological potential and can be further investigated towards anticancer and antimicrobial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, highly stable gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of different sizes ranging from 15 to 55 nm were synthesized via an eco-friendly, sustainable, and cost-efficient approach using a specific plant, Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi. The AuNPs demonstrated an absorption maximum at around 525 nm, hence exhibiting a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band that is created when the free electrons of the AuNPs oscillate in harmony with the frequency of incident light. The impact of physiochemical environments, pH, and temperature was examined. The crystal structure and stability of the produced AuNPs were validated with an X-ray diffractogram, zeta potential analysis, and absorption. The morphology, structure, and bonds were examined using HRTEM and FTIR, respectively. The interaction of AuNPs (concentrations range of 0–181 µM) with plasma protein bovine serum albumin was explored using absorption and fluorescence studies. Furthermore, AuNPs were utilized as an active catalyst for the degradation of dye methylene blue (MB) in the presence of NaBH4. MB was degraded by 94%, and the solution became colorless within 16 min with a rate constant of 0.175 min−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable oils are susceptible to degradative reactions; hence, some resources, such as natural antioxidant extracts, are used to increase their stability. The effects of Kalanchoe daigremontiana (KD) on food systems have not yet been documented; however, it is a source of bioactive compounds and possesses numerous qualities. This study aimed to evaluate the phenolic profile in the aqueous (KdAqE) and ethanolic (KdEThE) extracts of KD, along with their effects on the quality indicators of soybean oil stored under accelerated storage conditions. Extracts were prepared from the dried leaves of KD and concentrated at 31.5 mg/mL (KdEthE) and 70 mg/mL (KdAqE). Phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC–DAD. By Schaal Oven Test, soybean oil was stored (60 °C/21 days) in a total of five groups: control (Ctrl) and oil extracts in two concentrations (250 and 500 µg/mL). Every seven days of storage, tests for peroxidation, acidity, refraction, smoke point, and colorimetric indices were conducted. Chrysin and quercetin were the most prevalent phenolics in the extracts. KdEthE demonstrated protective action against peroxidation and hydrolytic rancidity. KdAqE demonstrated an effect in increasing the thermal resistance of the oil. KD extracts showed potential as a bioactive compound for the conservation or stability of lipid foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation is emerging as an eco-friendly, innovative, and cost-effective approach for the removal of textile dyes from wastewater from the previous decade. The current research work aims to explore the potential of a terrestrial ornamental plant, Bryophyllum fedtschenkoi (Raym.-Hamet & H. Perrier) Lauz.-March. for remediating the diazo dye as Congo red (CR) in aqueous form. B. fedtschenkoi was grown hydroponically before treatment with 100 mL of a different concentration of CR dye solution. A maximum decolorization potential of 90% was obtained for 10 mg L− 1 after 40 h of equilibrium. The kinetic studies have revealed that the experimental results for the removal of CR dye using the B.fedtschenkoi plant are suitable for Pseudo-first order with R2 ≥ 0.92, while the equilibrium studies agreed with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm with R2 ≥ 0.909. The dye removal by the plant was confirmed with the help of analytical techniques Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were also performed on dye-degraded metabolites to explore the mechanism of dye degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diarrhea is a symptom experienced by nearly everyone, generally considered an increase in the volume, fluidity, and/or frequency of stools. Chronic diarrhea may affect ~5% of people in industrialized countries, and acute or chronic infectious diarrhea remains an important cause of morbidity in developing countries. The Crassulaceae family of plants includes the Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken plant, which is well renowned for its therapeutic properties. The main aim of the research is to assess the antidiarrheal property using Mgso4 induced diarrheal model and isolate an active compound. Both EAE and EE exhibited consistent effects. The Percentage of Inhibition of T1 (EE 200 mg/kg), T2 (EE 400 mg/kg), T3 (EAE 200 mg/kg) and T4 (EAE 400mg/kg) groups was found 41.51%, 61.32%, 32.56% and 52.78% respectively with standard Loperamide drug (at 3 mg/kg dose, p.o.). T2 (EE 400mg/kg) showed better outcomes because of isolated flavonoid substance, 4, 5, 7-trihydroxy flavones as a yellow pigment from ethanol-DCM, with the aid of analysis using UV, IR, NMR and mass spectroscopy, the substance, was characterized and identified as 4, 5, 7-trihydroxy flavones, with the chemical formula C15H10O5 from EE extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken plant leaves. Finally, it can be concluded that flavonoids are responsible for the antidiarrheal activity and this may be used to determine the precise function of herbal medicine in contemporary society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the leaves of Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi were consecutively macerated with hexane, chloroform, and methanol. These extracts were used to assess the bioactivities of the plant. The antimicrobial activity was tested against a panel of Gram-positive and -negative pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains using the microdilution method. The cytotoxicity of K. fedtschenkoi extracts was investigated using human-derived macrophage THP-1 cells through the MTT assay. Finally, the anti-inflammatory activity of extracts was studied using the same cell line by measuring the secretion of IL-10 and IL-6. The phytoconstituents of hexane and chloroform extracts were evaluated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to study the phytochemical content of methanol extract. The total flavonoid content (TFC) of methanol extract is also reported. The chemical composition of K. fedtschenkoi extracts was evaluated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results revealed that the chloroform extract inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 150 μ g/mL. At the same concentration, methanol extract inhibited the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Regarding their cytotoxicity, the three extracts were highly cytotoxic against the tested cell line at IC50 < 3 μ g/mL. In addition, the chloroform extract significantly stimulated the secretion of IL-10 at 50 μ g/mL (p < 0.01). GC/MS analyses revealed that hexane and chloroform extracts contain fatty acids, sterols, vitamin E, and triterpenes. The HPLC analysis demonstrated that methanol extract was constituted by quercetin and kaempferol derivatives. This is the first report in which the bioactivities and chemical profiles of K. fedtschenkoi are assessed for non-polar and polar extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are synthesised by combining the leaf extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum with 25 mM of copper sulphate (CuSO4) and sodium selenite (Na2SeO3), respectively. At 300 nm, the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum confirms the production of CuNPs and SeNPs. In CuNPs and SeNPs, the fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum reveals the presence of functional groups associated with bioactive compounds. X-ray spectroscopy shows that the properties of CuNPs and SeNPs are distinctive. Using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), copper and selenium with narrow, intense widths and great purity were identified. Depending on the species level, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of CuNPs and SeNPs synthesised in a green approach ranged from 12 to 30 ppm. On soil microflora, synthesised NPs showed no detectable effect on microbial growth compared to the control. The present results demonstrate the benefits of a green approach to the generation of NPs with potent anti-bacterial activity and no negative impact on soil microbiota. The present findings illustrate the advantages of a green strategy for the development of NPs with potent antibacterial activity and no toxicity to soil microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to isolate endophytic fungi and examine their anti-diabetic as well as antioxidant potential. Twenty-nine endophytic fungi were isolated from the stem and root parts of Bryophyllum pinnatum. Based on the presence of phytoconstituents, 16 endophytic isolates were tested for the inhibition of α-amylase enzyme and free radicals. Thirteen isolates showed significant inhibition of α-amylase enzyme (18.8 ± 0.8 to 62.5 ± 0.4%) and free radicals (15.3 ± 0.2 to 87.4 ± 0.8%). Good inhibitions were found in six isolates, which was further tested to validates its anti-diabetic activity by glucose uptake in yeast cell and glucose diffusion inhibition studies. The most active isolates were identified as Daldinia eschscholtzii (BPS17) and Phomopsis mangiferae (BPK9) by microscopic and molecular identification method. Identified fungal isolates were tested for glucose uptake using 3T3 cell lines (100 µg/mL) and the result showed effective glucose utilization. These finding provides evidence that D. eschscholtzii and P. mangiferae are potent endophytic fungi having anti-diabetic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), a specialized mode of photosynthesis, enables plant adaptation to water-limited environments and improves photosynthetic efficiency via an inorganic carbon-concentrating mechanism. Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi is an obligate CAM model featuring a relatively small genome and easy stable transformation. However, the molecular responses to light quality and intensity in CAM plants remain understudied. RESULTS: Here we present a genome-wide expression atlas of K. fedtschenkoi plants grown under 12 h/12 h photoperiod with different light quality (blue, red, far-red, white light) and intensity (0, 150, 440, and 1,000 μmol m-2 s-1) based on RNA sequencing performed for mature leaf samples collected at dawn (2 h before the light period) and dusk (2 h before the dark period). An eFP web browser was created for easy access of the gene expression data. Based on the expression atlas, we constructed a light-responsive co-expression network to reveal the potential regulatory relationships in K. fedtschenkoi. Measurements of leaf titratable acidity, soluble sugar, and starch turnover provided metabolic indicators of the magnitude of CAM under the different light treatments and were used to provide biological context for the expression dataset. Furthermore, CAM-related subnetworks were highlighted to showcase genes relevant to CAM pathway, circadian clock, and stomatal movement. In comparison with white light, monochrome blue/red/far-red light treatments repressed the expression of several CAM-related genes at dusk, along with a major reduction in acid accumulation. Increasing light intensity from an intermediate level (440 μmol m-2 s-1) of white light to a high light treatment (1,000 μmol m-2 s-1) increased expression of several genes involved in dark CO2 fixation and malate transport at dawn, along with an increase in organic acid accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a useful genomics resource for investigating the molecular mechanism underlying the light regulation of physiology and metabolism in CAM plants. Our results support the hypothesis that both light intensity and light quality can modulate the CAM pathway through regulation of CAM-related genes in K. fedtschenkoi.

Kalanchoe species are characterized by asexual propagation in which plantlets live on leaf margins until they fall down and grow into new plants. Numerous studies have been performed to investigate Kalanchoe species tolerance to several environmental stresses. However, plant's developmental stages have not been correlated yet with plant's tolerance to such stresses. The aim of this work was to assess salt tolerance in Kalanchoe daigremontiana through morphological and physiological analysis performed on plants treated with two NaCl solutions (100 mM and 150 mM) during vegetative and asexual propagation. Plant growth and leaf morphological parameters were negatively affected by salt treatments. Yet, more severe effects were detected during vegetative propagation, especially when plants were treated with 150 mM NaCl. Conversely, two salinity treatments led to similar results during asexual propagation, without significant differences in biomass allocation, water status, photosynthetic pigments, and ions content. Likewise, the concentration of photosynthetic pigments and ion distribution showed differences according to plant's development phase. The obtained results highlighted different salt stress responses in K. daigremontiana based on its developmental stage, especially showing an enhanced salt tolerance for plants with plantlets attached to leaf margins and thus suggesting that the developmental stage is an aspect to be taken into account when investigating plant organisms response to abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Selected plant extracts had activity against MDR Staphylococcus aureus mastitis isolates. • Kalanchoe gunniae was antibacterial with low cytotoxicity (selectivity index 25). • K. gunniae inhibited biofilm development but could not eradicate pre-formed biofilm. • K. gunniae had anti-quorum sensing activity and is a candidate for future studies. Mastitis is a painful inflammatory condition, commonly resulting from infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and other pathogens. In this study, antimicrobial, anti-biofilm and anti-quorum sensing activities of selected plants were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus isolates from clinical cases of bovine mastitis. Acetone and ethanol extracts of 15 plants were initially screened for their antimicrobial activities against the commercially available reference strain S. aureus ATCC 29213. Maytenus undata, Maurocenia frangula, Kalanchoe gunniae and Bryophyllum pinnatum had good activities and extracts were tested against six multi-drug resistant S. aureus strains isolated from clinical bovine mastitis cases. The four plants were further analysed for cytotoxicity and anti-quorum sensing activities. Two of the plants with good results were assessed further for anti-biofilm activity. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the extracts against S. aureus isolates ranged from 0.02 to 0.63 mg/mL. Kalanchoe gunniae extracts were the least cytotoxic with extremely promising selectivity index (SI) values ranging from 12 to 25. Significant inhibition of biofilm development against S. aureus mastitis isolates was observed, but extracts were not able to eradicate pre-formed biofilms. Kalanchoe gunniae extracts had the best anti-quorum sensing activity with minimum quorum sensing inhibition concentration (MQSIC) and MIC values of 0.04 mg/mL and 0.63 mg/mL respectively against Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472. Therefore, K. gunniae holds potential for development of a preventative treatment against bovine mastitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Kalanchoe Adans. (Crassulaceae) is native to Madagascar and comprises 145 species, being naturalized in the tropics and cultivated worldwide. In addition to having ornamental value, several Kalanchoe species are commonly used in popular medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, wounds, gastric ulcers, and other diseases. The great importance of the genus is reflected on its acknowledgment by traditional and alternative health systems and organizations, as well as on the growing number of papers reporting pharmacological properties of extracts and isolated compounds from Kalanchoe. Among these properties, we highlight anti-inflammatory, antitumor, wound healing, antiulcer, and muscle relaxing properties. These activities are attributed mostly to flavonoids and bufadienolides, the main secondary metabolites reported in Kalanchoe extracts. While bufadienolides are generally related to cytotoxic and muscle relaxing activities, flavonoids are commonly reported as anti-inflammatory and wound healing agents. This review provides up to date information and perspectives on bioactive compounds from the Kalanchoe genus that are potentially useful for the development of new drugs. It includes not only a discussion on the advantages of the Kalanchoe species as source of bioactive compounds, but also the gaps, opportunities, and challenges to translate the acquired knowledge into innovation for drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sunscreens are essential in tropical countries with a high annual incidence of solar radiation. The incorporation of natural products in their formulations has great public acceptance and prevents several issues related to organic and inorganic filters, such as adverse reactions. The present study evaluates the antioxidant and photoprotective activities and the ability to inhibit tyrosinase of three plant species traditionally used by Amazonian inhabitants in the treatment of skin disorders. Materials and Methods: The antioxidant activity, the capacity to inhibit the enzyme tyrosinase, ratio UVA/UVB, critical wavelength, sun protection factor, and cellular viability was assessed in ethanolic extracts at 10% of Chrysobalanus icaco, Kalanchoe pinnata, and Ayapana triplinervis collected in the State of Para-Brazil. Results: Chrysobalanus icaco and Kalanchoe pinnata showed promising antioxidant activity. Ayapana triplinervis demonstrated considerable inhibition of the tyrosinase enzyme. Plants extracts had low protection against UVB radiation, but adequate UVA protection. Ayapana triplinervis presented the lowest cellular viability of keratinocytes and murine fibroblasts. Conclusion: The addition of these extracts to other natural products with high sun protection factors can provide the consumer with a natural sunscreen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Bryophyllum constitutes a subgenus of succulent plants that have been widely employed worldwide in traditional medicine. Micropropagation is required to optimize their growth and reproduction for biotechnological purposes. The mineral composition of culture media is usually an underestimated factor in the design of the in vitro culture protocols of medicinal plants. Universal and highly cited media mineral formulations, such as the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, are generally employed in plant tissue culture studies, although they cause physiological disorders due to their imbalanced mineral composition. In this work, neurofuzzy logic is proposed as a machine-learning-based tool to decipher the key factors (genotype, number of subcultures, and macronutrients) that are involved in the establishment of the Bryophyllum sp. in vitro culture. The results show that genotype played a key role, as it impacts both vegetative growth and asexual reproduction in all of the species that were studied. In addition, ammonium was identified as a significant factor, as concentrations above 15 mM promote a negative effect on vegetative growth and reproduction. These findings should be considered as the starting point for optimizing the establishment of the in vitro culture of Bryophyllum species, with large-scale applications as biofactories of health-promoting compounds, such as polyphenols and bufadienolides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals that the in-vivo comparative evaluation of anti-arthritic activity of Pongamia pinnata seeds, Bryophyllum pinnata leaves and their combined formulation using Dexamethasone as a standard. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory arthritis and affects the connective tissues throughout the body, but especially around the joints. Pongamia pinnata and Bryophyllum pinnatum have several uses which ascribed in traditional medicine. Pongamia pinnata used in diabetes, Epilepsy, hypertension, skin ailments and rheumatic arthritis. Bryophyllum pinnatum used in inflammatory disease, analgesic, ulcer, kidney and gall bladder stones. In vivo method, the antiarthritic effect of Pongamia pinnata seed and Bryophyllum pinnata leave combined extract (PBCE) was confirmed by Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) arthritis induced rat. FCA consists of inactivated dried mycobacterium which stimulates effectively cell mediated immunity and produce immunoglobulin. In the present study, the results show that the Pongamia pinnata ethanolic extract (PPEE), Bryophyllum Pinnatum ethanolic extract (BPEE) and Pongamia Bryophyllum combined extract (PBCE) had significantly anti-arthritic effect on behaviors, hematological and biochemical parameters. Both plants are rich in antioxidant, flavonoids and polyphenols which are inhibit lipid. Treatment with PBCE reduces the all biochemical serum parameters similar as dexamethsone. The present investigation showed that PBCE (500mg/kg) was observed highly significant reduces paw swelling, hematological parameters and biochemical parameters in the FCA induced arthritis rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a global public health problem that is related to different environmental and lifestyle factors. Although the combination of screening, prevention, and treatment of cancer has resulted in increased patient survival, conventional treatments sometimes have therapeutic limitations such as resistance to drugs or severe side effects. Oriental culture includes herbal medicine as a complementary therapy in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. This study aimed to identify the bioactive ingredients in Kalanchoe pinnata, a succulent herb with ethnomedical applications for several diseases, including cancer, and reveal its anticancer mechanisms through a molecular approach. The herb contains gallic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, quercetin, quercitrin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, bersaldegenin, bryophyllin a, bryophyllin c, bryophynol, bryophyllol and bryophollone, stigmasterol, campesterol, and other elements. Its phytochemicals participate in the regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration, angiogenesis, metastasis, oxidative stress, and autophagy. They have the potential to act as epigenetic drugs by reverting the acquired epigenetic changes associated with tumor resistance to therapy—such as the promoter methylation of suppressor genes, inhibition of DNMT1 and DNMT3b activity, and HDAC regulation—through methylation, thereby regulating the expression of genes involved in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Nrf2/Keap1, MEK/ERK, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. All of the data support the use of K. pinnata as an adjuvant in cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bryophyllum pinnatum Lam. (Oken) (Crassulaceae) are commonly known as miracle plant. Traditionally, this plant is used to heal wounds and to treat diarrhoea. For this reason, the main aim of the present study is to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity using castor oil-induced diarrhea model. Loperamide drug (3 mg dose, p.o.) was used as standard drug. The EAE and EE at 200 mg dose and 400 mg dose, p.o. respectively produced dose-dependent protection of mice with significant P value (P<0.001). Both extracts of plant produced dose-dependent and significant P-value (P <0.001) towards antimotility effect compared with negative control (castor oil) group in model. EE (400 mg dose p.o.) possess better antidiarrheal potential in mice groups due to presence of flavone. 5-methyl-4,5,7-trihydroxy flavone was isolated from the ethanol extract. Finally, it can be concluded that, Bryophyllum pinnatum Lam. (Oken) leaves can be used ethnomedicinally to treat, counterbalance, bulwark, and control diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Synthesis of self-assembled Co-doped ZnO NPs forming porous microstructures. • Different concentrations of Co (2.5 %, 5.0 %, and 7.5 % at.%) in ZnO were explored. • Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract used as the stabilizing/capping agent during synthesis. • Photocatalytic removal of methylene blue (MB) assessed, indicating highest activity with 5 % Co in ZnO. • 100 mL of 10 mg/L MB underwent 98.08 % degradation in 60 min with rate constant 0.0582 min−1. Cobalt-doped ZnO nanoparticles (Co-ZnO NPs) were synthesized using a phytoextract mediated technique with varying concentrations of Co (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 at.%), employing Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract as the stabilizing/capping agent. XRD analysis revealed that the synthesized Co-ZnO crystallize in a wurtzite crystalline phase with P6 3 mc space group. FE-SEM imaging depicted the self-assembly of nanoparticles, forming porous microstructures. UV–Visible spectra analysis indicated a gradual decrease in the bandgap energy of the ZnO lattice with increasing Co concentration. Additionally, by examining the photocatalytic removal of methylene blue (MB), the photocatalytic activity of the Co-ZnO NPs was assessed. Results showed that Co-ZnO NPs with 5 % Co exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity, suggesting an optimal Co dopant concentration that minimizes the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers compared to other samples. Under sunlight exposure, Co-ZnO NPs with 5 % Co demonstrated effective photocatalytic activity, achieving the degradation of 98.08 % of a 10 mg/L MB solution within 60 min using a 1.2 g/L dosage, with a rate constant of 0.0582 min−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of industrialization and other anthropogenic activities, water sources are being contaminated incrementally. Groundwater contaminated by fluoride has been a major global concern for public health in recent years. Various types of materials have been employed for the removal of contaminants from water. Among all, biochar has gained attention in recent times. Biochar is a carbon-rich and environmentally friendly pollutant adsorbent important in remediating inorganic contaminants like fluoride from water. In the current study, Bryophyllum pinnatum-raw biochar and activated biochar doped with aluminum were prepared from the leaves of the Bryophyllum pinnatum (B. pinnatum) plant. The removal efficiency of raw/pristine biochar (RB) and Bryophyllum pinnatum-activated biochar (BAB) was investigated by treating both biochars with fluoride-contaminated water. The biochar was characterized using FTIR, FESEM-EDX, XRD, BET, and pHpzc techniques, which showed that the positive charges and adsorption sites were created due to the effective loading of the metal hydroxide on the biochar surface during BAB formation which played a significant role in defluoridation. To investigate the effect of different factors on the percentage of fluoride removal, batch tests were carried out. Kinetic and isotherm models were also applied to evaluate the mode of action and mechanistic approach. The results revealed that BAB exhibited a higher fluoride removal efficiency of 92% compared to RB and followed the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir model showing chemisorption. Thus, the prepared activated biochar holds a good potential to be used as a sorbent for defluoridation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • BrPi-P-G-NPs synthesized through green synthesis. • Research delves into BrPi-P-G-NPs, prepared using BrPi extract, offering novel insights. • Biogenic BrPi-P-G-NPs demonstrated notable anticancer efficacy against breast cancer cell lines. • Enhanced stability and reduced toxicity of NPs profiles showcased. Primary aim of the proposed study was to explore the green technique for synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles of platinum and gold metal by employing Bryophyllum pinnatum hydroalcoholic extract (BrPi-P-G-NPs) to explore their potential medicinal properties. Green synthesised bimetallic nanoparticles were characterized by techniques including UV spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, DSC, Particle size and Zeta Potential analysis. Experimental findings confirmed that BrPi-P-G-NPs demonstrate irregular shape, with an average size 34.5 nm. Zeta potential for BrPi and BrPi-P-G-NPs were found to be −8.1 and −24.1 mV, respectively. At a concentration of 75 µg mL−1, the MTT and trypan blue assays of the BrPi-P-G-NPs revealed a cell inhibition rate of 63.54 % and 60.23 %, respectively. In the MCF-7 cell line, the MTT and trypan blue assays recorded IC50 values of 153.54 and 158.04, respectively, for the BrPi-P-G-NPs at the same concentration. Thus, biologically synthesized BrPi-P-G-NPs demonstrated promising anti-cancer properties against human breast cancer cell lines, while showed no signs of toxicity. The enhanced biological activity of BrPi-P-G-NPs can be attributed to their distinctive properties at the nanoscale, as both exhibit lower polydispersity and nanoparticle size, which contribute to increased reactivity and interactions with biological systems. As a result, these BrPi-P-G-NPs nanoparticles synthesized through the biogenic approach using plant extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum have immense potential for a wide range of pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) is a water-use efficient adaptation of photosynthesis that has evolved independently many times in diverse lineages of flowering plants. We hypothesize that convergent evolution of protein sequence and temporal gene expression underpins the independent emergences of CAM from C3 photosynthesis. To test this hypothesis, we generate a de novo genome assembly and genome-wide transcript expression data for Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi, an obligate CAM species within the core eudicots with a relatively small genome (~260 Mb). Our comparative analyses identify signatures of convergence in protein sequence and re-scheduling of diel transcript expression of genes involved in nocturnal CO2 fixation, stomatal movement, heat tolerance, circadian clock, and carbohydrate metabolism in K. fedtschenkoi and other CAM species in comparison with non-CAM species. These findings provide new insights into molecular convergence and building blocks of CAM and will facilitate CAM-into-C3 photosynthesis engineering to enhance water-use efficiency in crops.

Novel approaches to the characterization of medicinal plants as biofactories have lately increased in the field of biotechnology. In this work, a multifaceted approach based on plant tissue culture, metabolomics, and machine learning was applied to decipher and further characterize the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds by eliciting cell suspension cultures from medicinal plants belonging to the Bryophyllum subgenus. The application of untargeted metabolomics provided a total of 460 phenolic compounds. The biosynthesis of 164 of them was significantly modulated by elicitation. The application of neurofuzzy logic as a machine learning tool allowed for deciphering the critical factors involved in the response to elicitation, predicting their influence and interactions on plant cell growth and the biosynthesis of several polyphenols subfamilies. The results indicate that salicylic acid plays a definitive genotype-dependent role in the elicitation of Bryophyllum cell cultures, while methyl jasmonate was revealed as a secondary factor. The knowledge provided by this approach opens a wide perspective on the research of medicinal plants and facilitates their biotechnological exploitation as biofactories in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]