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Dracocephalum L. is a well-known aromatic and medicinal plant genus in the Mint family. Some species of the genus such as D. kotschyi (DK) are widely used in Iranian folk medicine as tonic and carminative, as well as for relieves of headache, stomachache, and liver ailments. The present study was aimed to: isolate and determine some bioactive flavonoids from DK, evaluate their content in some Iranian Dracocephalum species, and assess their inhibitory activity and molecular dynamics against Human mutT homolog 1 (MTH1) enzyme. Aerial flowering parts of eight Iranian native Dracocephalum species were collected from different regions of Iran. The flavonoids of DK were comprehensively isolated by column chromatography, and then characterized by NMR and MS techniques. For simultaneous determination of flavonoids in methanol extract of the Dracocephalum studied species, a reversed-phase HPLC-DAD method was developed. Luteolin, apigenin, xanthomicrol, calycopterin, ermanin and three newly isolated flavonoids including circilineol, 5-demethylsinenstin, cirsimaritin and 5,7,4´-trihydroxy 3,3´-dimethoxyflavone were characterized in DK. Simultaneous determination of nine flavonoids in eight Iranian Dracocephalum species exerted the highest amount of xanthomicrol (4430±1.8 µg/g DW) and 5-demethylsinensetin (766.2±0.4 µg/g DW) in D. polychaetum and D. aucheri, respectively. Our study showed, different species with similar morphology have different flavonoid profile. To have a molecular insight into their effectiveness in cancer inhibition, Gaussian 03, GROMACS 5.2, and Pymol software were exploited to optimize, simulate, and dock them against MTH1 enzyme, respectively. Molecular docking study revealed that xanthomicrol and 5-demethylsinenstin could tightly bind to MTH1 enzyme via different hydrogen bonds in the active site of the protein. Xanthomicrol and 5-demethylsinenstin, the two flavonoids with stronger bonds with MTH1 enzyme, could be considered as reliable pharmacologically active ingredients against the cancers involving MTH1 activity.

Melissa officinalis L(MO) is also known as bee balm, lemon balm, honey balm, and is a perennial herb. It is a member of the Lamiaceae family Which is often referred to as (the mint family). The influence of diet containing fortified bread with(5, 7.5 , 10%)Meliss powder(MP) on rats suffering from oxidative stress has been studied. Fortified bread with (5 , 7.5 , 10%) MP were prepared and were subjected to sensory evaluation.The best level of fortified bread after sensory evaluation was 5% but the best level of fortified bread after the biological study was 10%.The chemical composition of bread was estimated at 5% due to its acceptance in sensory evaluation. Twenty five male albino rats(170-190g) were randomly distributed into 5 equal groups,of5 rats each. Group 1 was fed on the basal diet containing unfortified pan bread and kept as a negative control group. The other 4 groups (n=20 rats), were injected with a single intraperitoneal dose of 125mg/kgbw of potassium bromate (KBro3) for oxidative stress induction group 2 was fed on the basal diet, which includes unfortified pan bread as positive control rats, groups 3 , 4 and 5 were fed on diet containing fortified pan bread with (5 , 7.5 & 10%)MP respectively. The obtained results revealed that the injected groups with levels 10% of diet containing fortified bread with MP had significant decrease in serum levels of lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides , LDL , VLDL), kidney,liver function and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and significant increased in serum levels of HDL, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPX),superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes.Moreover,there was a significant reduced in MDA and increase in GSH levels and the activity of antioxidant enzymes(GPX, SOD and CAT)in liver tissues as well as partially improvements in liver structures compared to positive intoxicated “control group”, but non significant increase in(BWG%) , FI and FER which nearly returned toward the negative control group.The best improvements among all the biochemical parameters and histological structures of liver which were tended toward normal results were observed in group treated with bread fortified 10%MP.In conclusion,the present findings suggested that regular intake from 10% fortified bread with MP may be useful in improving liver and kidney functions and may protect against potassium bromate (KBro3) which induced oxidative stress in rats. تعرف نبات المليسيا أيضا باسم بلسم النحل ، بلسم الليمون ، بلسم العسل ، وهو عشب معمر. وهو عضو في عائلة (النباتات المزهرة) التي غالبا ما يشار إليها باسم (عائلة النعناع)، أجريت هذه الدراسة لمعرفة تأثير النظام الغذائي المحتوي على الخبز المدعم بنسبة (5 ، 7.5 ، 10٪) من مسحوق المليسيا (MP) على الفئران التي تعاني من الإجهاد التأکسدي ، تم أستخدام مستويات مختلفة من النظام الغذائي المحتوي على الخبز المدعم بنسبة (5 ، 7.5 ، 10٪) تم استخدام مسحوق المليسيا في تحضير الخبز المختبرة التي خضعت للتقييم الحسي ، وکان أفضل مستوى للخبز المدعم بعد التقييم الحسي 5٪ ولکن أفضل مستوى للخبز المدعم بعد الاختبارات البيولوجية کان 10٪ ، وتم تقدير الترکيب الکميائى لنسبة 5٪ بسبب حصوله على احسن قبول في التقييم الحسي ، أستخدمت هذه الدراسة خمسه وعشرون جرذآ من ذکور الألبينو تم تقسيمهم بشکل عشوائى الى خمس مجموعات تحتوى کل منها على خمس فئران.المجموعة الأولى تم تغذيتها على النظام الغذائى الأساسى کمجموعة ضابطة سالبة وتم حقن باقى الفئران الأخرى 20فأر بواسطة برومات البوتاسيوم تم حقنها داخل الغشاء البريتونى بجرعة واحدة(125ملجم / کجم من وزن الجسم) لأحداث الإجهاد التأکسدي ، بعد ذلک تم تقسيم المجموعات التى تم حقنها إلى 4 مجموعات فرعية على النحو التالي ، المجموعة الفرعية 2 التي تم تغذيتها على النظام الغذائي الأساسي تحتوي على خبز غير مدعم کمجموعة کنترول موجبة ، المجموعات الفرعية 3 و 4 و 5تم التغذية على حمية تحتوي على خبز مدعم بمسحوق المليسيا بنسبة (5 ، 7.5 ، 10٪) على التوالي ، وأظهرت النتائج المتحصل عليها أن المجموعه التى تغذت بمستوى 10٪ من الخبز المدعم بمسحوق المليسيا قد أحدثت انخفاض معنوي بشکل ملحوظ في مستويات مصل الدم من الکوليسترول الکلي ، الدهون الثلاثية ، الليبوبروتينات منخفضة الکثافة LDL-c ، الليبوبروتينات متوسطة الکثافة VLDL-c ، اليوريا ، حمض البوليک ، الکرياتينين ، ووظائف الکبد(AST ،ALT،ALP) و MDA وزيادة ملحوظة في مستويات المصل من الليبوبروتينات عالية الکثافة HDL-c ، والقدرة الإجمالية لمضادات الأکسدة (TAC) ، والجلوتاثيون (GSH) ، ونشاط أنزيمات الجلوتاثيون بيروکسيديز (GPX) ، (SOD) والإنزيمات (CAT). کما أظهرت النتائج حدوث أنخفاض في MDA وزيادة في محتوى GSH ونشاط إنزيمات مضادات الأکسدة (GPX و SOD و CAT) في أنسجة الکبد بالإضافة إلى التحسينات الجزئية في أنسجة الکبد مقارنة بتلک المجموعة الضابطة الموجبة ، وعدم وجود فروق معنوية تذکر بالنسبة للطعام المأخوذ والنسبة المئوية للزيادة فى وزن الجسم ومدى الاستفادة من الغذاء المتناول والتى کانت تميل نحو نتائج المجموعة الضابطة السليمه ، وکانت أفضل النتائج لجميع المؤشرات البيوکيميائية والهستوباثولوجية لانسجة الکبد والتى کانت قريبة من النتائج الطبيعية کانت للمجموعة التى تغذت على الخبز المدعم ب 10% من مسحوق المليسيا فى النهاية تشير النتائج الحالية الى أن الأستخدام المنتظم من الخبز المدعم ب 10% من مسحوق المليسيا له تأثير مفيد فى تحسن وظائف الکبد والکلى ويعد عامل وقائى ضد الأجهاد التأکسدى المحدث ببرومات البوتاسيوم فى الفئران. الکلمات المفتاحية:أنزيمات مضادات الأکسدة , وظائف الکبد , وظائف الکلى , دهون الدم, مليسيا , الأجهاد التأکسدى , الفئران.

Moluccella laevis L. belongs to family Lamiaceae (Labiatae or Mint family). It is an annual herb. It flowers from March to April. It bears dense spikes of small 2-lipped white fragrant florets with large, bell-shaped calyxes, known as ''Shell flower'' or ''Bells of Ireland''. It is cultivated as a decorative plant. By reviewing the literature, few botanical investigations were reported on this plant, which inspires us to explore both macro- and micro-morphological investigations of M. laevis L. stem, root and inflorescence, to aid the researchers in the authentication and identification of M. laevis different parts in both entire and powdered forms.

Nepeta curvidens is a plant of the mint family and an important species of the genus Nepeta. The main habitat of the N. curvidens in the Garin Mountains in Lorestan Province, Iran. Although locals have used N. curvidens as a food flavoring agent for years, few studies have been conducted on its phytochemical and biological properties. The chemical constituents of N. curvidens essential oil and then its biological properties were studied in detail in this investigation. N. curvidens essential oil was prepared from the aerial parts of the plant using the hydrodistillation method and its chemical composition was analyzed by the GC-MS method. Antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-Leishmania, and cytotoxic activities of the essential oil were investigated in vitro. In addition, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated in vivo. Most of N. curvidens essential oil compositions are composed of trans-caryophyllene (17.53%), allo-spathulenol (13.41%), germacrene D (10.12%), bicyclogermacrene (9.36%), α-pinene (9.12%), and β-phellandrene (6.87%). The highest antimicrobial and antifungal effects were observed against L. monocytogenes (MIC=156.25 μg/ml) and K. marxianus (MIC=625 µg/ml), respectively. Concentration-dependent effects were detected in the treatment of L. major, so that the number of macrophages infected with amastigote dropped significantly with higher concentrations. The essential oil showed the highest effect on the lung cancer cell line (A549) with the lowest IC50 (133.2μg/mL). The most resistant cell line to the essential oil was bladder cancer (C450) with an IC50 of 430.69 µg/mL. SI 19.49 index indicated high immunity of the essential oil on macrophage lines. Compared with morphine analgesic, the highest pain control effect of the essential oil was observed in primary and secondary phases at 100 mg/kg concentration in rats. At 100 mg/kg concentration, reduced swelling of the paw and ear was observed in mice compared to the dexamethasone anti-inflammatory drug. The essential oil presents remarkable therapeutic properties such as antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties that probably attributed to the presence of an important trans-caryophyllene compound. Outstandingly, the essential oil has low toxic effects on the normal line and high antitumor properties against cancer cells. Therefore, it is expected to be used in the preparation of less toxic drugs than chemical ones, although more studies are required.

Plants exhibiting the water-conserving crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthetic pathway provide some of the most intriguing examples of photosynthetic diversity and plasticity. Here, a largely unnoticed facet of CAM-plant photosynthesis is highlighted: the co-occurrence of ontogenetically controlled constitutive and environmentally controlled facultative CAM in a species. Both forms of CAM are displayed in leaves of Coleus amboinicus Lour. (Lamiaceae), a semi-succulent perennial plant with oregano-like flavour that is native to southern and eastern Africa and naturalised elsewhere in the tropics. Under well-watered conditions, leaves assimilate CO2 predominantly by the C3 pathway. They also display low levels of CO2 uptake at night accompanied by small nocturnal increases in leaf tissue acidity. This indicates the presence of weakly expressed constitutive CAM. CAM expression is strongly enhanced in response to drought stress. The drought-enhanced component of CAM is reversible upon rewatering and thus considered to be facultative. In contrast to C. amboinicus, the thin-leaved closely related Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth. exhibits net CO2 fixation solely in the light via the C3 pathway, both under well-watered and drought conditions. However, low levels of nocturnal acidification detected in leaves and stems indicate that the CAM cycle is present. The highly speciose mint family, which contains few known CAM-exhibiting species and is composed predominantly of C3 species, appears to be an excellent group of plants for studying the evolutionary origins of CAM and for determining the position of facultative CAM along the C3–full CAM trajectory.

Introduction: The number of neurons in the hippocampus can have a direct effect on its function. The plant Brazembel from the mint family may have antioxidant properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of stress and Brazmble extract on neuronal density of CA1, CA2 in male rats. Methods: In this experimental study, Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups (n=5), including control, and negative control under stress, also experimental group,including stress and get Brazmbl doses of the extract mL 50, mL 75 and mL 100. Limiting stress for 21 days, the rats were exposed in 2 hours. Groups receiving the extract for 21 days, to get inside limiting extracts were gavaged. After removal of the brain by perfusion, the hippocampus was excised and stained, and the neuronal density was calculated by dissector and metasteriology. The results were analyzed by Minitab 16 software with t-test and ANOVA at a significant level (P

Next-generation sequencing technologies have facilitated new phylogenomic approaches to help clarify previously intractable relationships while simultaneously highlighting the pervasive nature of incongruence within and among genomes that can complicate definitive taxonomic conclusions. Salvia L., with ∼1,000 species, makes up nearly 15% of the species diversity in the mint family and has attracted great interest from biologists across subdisciplines. Despite the great progress that has been achieved in discerning the placement of Salvia within Lamiaceae and in clarifying its infrageneric relationships through plastid, nuclear ribosomal, and nuclear single-copy genes, the incomplete resolution has left open major questions regarding the phylogenetic relationships among and within the subgenera, as well as to what extent the infrageneric relationships differ across genomes. We expanded a previously published anchored hybrid enrichment dataset of 35 exemplars of Salvia to 179 terminals. We also reconstructed nearly complete plastomes for these samples from off-target reads. We used these data to examine the concordance and discordance among the nuclear loci and between the nuclear and plastid genomes in detail, elucidating both broad-scale and species-level relationships within Salvia. We found that despite the widespread gene tree discordance, nuclear phylogenies reconstructed using concatenated, coalescent, and network-based approaches recover a common backbone topology. Moreover, all subgenera, except for Audibertia, are strongly supported as monophyletic in all analyses. The plastome genealogy is largely resolved and is congruent with the nuclear backbone. However, multiple analyses suggest that incomplete lineage sorting does not fully explain the gene tree discordance. Instead, horizontal gene flow has been important in both the deep and more recent history of Salvia. Our results provide a robust species tree of Salvia across phylogenetic scales and genomes. Future comparative analyses in the genus will need to account for the impacts of hybridization/introgression and incomplete lineage sorting in topology and divergence time estimation.

Roylea elegans Wall. ex Benth. is a lemon-scented hoary shrub belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae). Traditionally, a local tribe of the Himalayan region uses leaves for scabs and skin infections. The aerial parts and leaves are widely used to cure various skin ailments. The plant is well known for two furanoid diterpenes, royeleganin and royelegafuran. The aqueous extract of Roylea elegans (AERE) leaves was investigated for wound-healing effects in rats using a physically induced burn model by assessing different parameters. Animals were divided into four groups (six rats in each group). Group I animals were considered as disease control and topically given base cream. Group II was considered as standard control and treated topically with Framycetin sulphate cream (1% w/w). Group III and IV animals were treated topically with creams containing 5 or 10% of AERE, respectively. Several parameters such as wound contraction rate, epithelialization period, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant markers along with pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were studied followed by histopathological studies. The animals treated with AERE cream exhibited significant declination in the wound area and increased collagen content as compared to the disease control group. The results showed that the lower dose (5%) of AERE produced a significant decrease in the epithelialization period, wound contraction rate, and collagen content. Increased levels of cytokine production may be one of the mechanisms in accelerating the wound-healing process. The study established the traditional claim as an antioxidant and wound-healing potential of Roylea elegans by promoting the accelerated wound-healing activity against the physically induced burn model.

Perilla is a young allotetraploid Lamiaceae species widely used in East Asia as herb and oil plant. Here, we report the high-quality, chromosome-scale genomes of the tetraploid (Perilla frutescens) and the AA diploid progenitor (Perilla citriodora). Comparative analyses suggest post Neolithic allotetraploidization within 10,000 years, and nucleotide mutation in tetraploid is 10% more than in diploid, both of which are dominated by G:C → A:T transitions. Incipient diploidization is characterized by balanced swaps of homeologous segments, and subsequent homeologous exchanges are enriched towards telomeres, with excess of replacements of AA genes by fractionated BB homeologs. Population analyses suggest that the crispa lines are close to the nascent tetraploid, and involvement of acyl-CoA: lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase gene for high α-linolenic acid content of seed oil is revealed by GWAS. These resources and findings provide insights into incipient diploidization and basis for breeding improvement of this medicinal plant., Perilla is a young allotetraploid species within the mint family Lamiaceae. Here, the authors assemble the genomes of a tetraploid species and its diploid progenitor, characterize the incipient diploidization of the tetraploid, conduct population genetics analyses, and identify loci associate with pigmentation and oil content.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is one of the most important crops with essential oils as well as polyphenols, phenolics, flavonoids and phenolic acids. This annual plant belongs to mint family, and indigenous to tropical regions. Basil leaves also has tremendous pharmaceutical benefits and it is common to use in rice, meat, stews and soups. Traditionally, it has been used in kidney problems, as a haemostyptic in childbirth, earache, menstrual irregularities, arthritis, anorexia, treatment of colds and malaria. Basil has been shown positive effects against viral, fungal, bacterial and some infections. Basil leaves have been used in treatment of fevers, coughs, flu, asthma, bronchitis, influenza and diarrhea. Basil Seed Mucilage, commonly known as basil seed gum. Basil seed mucilage can be considered as thickening, stabilizing, fat substitute, texurizer, surface-active and emulsifying hydrocolloid. The most important pharmacological uses of basil are anti-cancer activity, radioprotective activity, anti-microbial activity, anti-inflammatory effects, immunomodulatory activity, anti-stress activity, anti-diabetic activity, anti-pyretic activity, anti-arthritic activity, anti-oxidant activity, as a prophylactic agent and in cardiovascular disease.

Triterpenic acids (TAs), a large group of natural compounds with diverse biological activity, are produced by several plant taxa. Betulinic, oleanolic, and ursolic acids are the most medicinally important TAs and are mainly found in plants of the mint family. Metabolic engineering is strongly dependent on identifying the key genes in biosynthetic pathways toward the products of interest. In this study, gene expression tracking was performed by transcriptome mining, co-expression network analysis, and tissue-specific metabolite-expression analysis in order to identify possible key genes involved in TAs biosynthetic pathways. To this end, taxa-specific degenerate primers of six important genes were designed using an effective method based on the MEME algorithm in a phylogenetically related group of sequences and successfully applied in three members of the Lamiaceae (Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, and Thymus persicus). Based on the results of in-depth data analysis, genes encoding squalene epoxidase and oxido squalene cyclases are proposed as targets for boosting triterpene production. The results emphasize the importance of identifying key genes in triterpene biosynthesis, which may facilitate genetic manipulation or overexpression of target genes.

As a means to maintain their sessile lifestyle amid challenging environments, plants produce an enormous diversity of compounds as chemical defenses against biotic and abiotic insults. The underpinning metabolic pathways that support the biosynthesis of these specialized chemicals in divergent plant species provide a rich arena for understanding the molecular evolution of complex metabolic traits. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a phenolic natural product first discovered in plants of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is recognized for its wide range of medicinal properties and potential applications in human dietary and medical interventions. Interestingly, the RA chemotype is present sporadically in multiple taxa of flowering plants as well as some hornworts and ferns, prompting the question whether its biosynthesis arose independently across different lineages. Here we report the elucidation of the RA biosynthetic pathway in Phacelia campanularia (desert bells). This species represents the borage family (Boraginaceae), an RA-producing family closely related to the Lamiaceae within the Lamiids clade. Using a multi-omics approach in combination with functional characterization of candidate genes both in vitro and in vivo, we found that RA biosynthesis in P. campanularia involves specific activities of a BAHD acyltransferase and two cytochrome P450 hydroxylases. Further phylogenetic and comparative structure–function analyses of the P. campanularia RA biosynthetic enzymes clearly indicate that RA biosynthesis has evolved independently at least twice in the Lamiids, an exemplary case of chemotypic convergence through disparate evolutionary trajectories.

Purpose The importance of nutraceuticals and functional foods has been a topic of interest in nutrition research for many years. This review aims to summarize the findings on the nutritive value and health benefits of chia, as well as its use as a food fortificant. Design/methodology/approach Published literature on the nutritive value and therapeutic properties of chia has been reviewed. Findings Chia, an ancient grain, belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) and was cultivated in Mexico and Guatemala by the Mayas and Aztecs of a pre-Columbian era. In addition to being gluten-free, chia seeds are concentrated source of omega-3 fatty acids (mainly α-linolenic acid), fiber (insoluble) and polyphenolic compounds (myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, chlorogenic and caffeic acids), which were found to be comparatively higher than many other grains, cereals and oily seeds. Chia supplementation has potential to lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, pruritus and celiac disease. Because of its nutraceutical and physiochemical properties, chia has been widely used as a whole seed, flour, seed mucilage, gel and oil for developing various enriched food products, such as bread, pasta, cakes, cookies, chips, cheese, yoghurt, meat, fish and poultry. Originality/value With advancement in nutrition research, chia would have a great future perspective as feed, food and medicine. However, further research is needed to validate the potential therapeutic effect of chia supplementation on human health.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is important in Chinese traditional medicine where preparations of dried roots, “Huang Qin,” are used for liver and lung complaints and as complementary cancer treatments. We report a high-quality reference genome sequence for S. baicalensis where 93% of the 408.14-Mb genome has been assembled into nine pseudochromosomes with a super-N50 of 33.2 Mb. Comparison of this sequence with those of closely related species in the order Lamiales, Sesamum indicum and Salvia splendens, revealed that a specialized metabolic pathway for the synthesis of 4′-deoxyflavone bioactives evolved in the genus Scutellaria. We found that the gene encoding a specific cinnamate coenzyme A ligase likely obtained its new function following recent mutations, and that four genes encoding enzymes in the 4′-deoxyflavone pathway are present as tandem repeats in the genome of S. baicalensis. Further analyses revealed that gene duplications, segmental duplication, gene amplification, and point mutations coupled to gene neo- and subfunctionalizations were involved in the evolution of 4′-deoxyflavone synthesis in the genus Scutellaria. Our study not only provides significant insight into the evolution of specific flavone biosynthetic pathways in the mint family, Lamiaceae, but also will facilitate the development of tools for enhancing bioactive productivity by metabolic engineering in microbes or by molecular breeding in plants. The reference genome of S. baicalensis is also useful for improving the genome assemblies for other members of the mint family and offers an important foundation for decoding the synthetic pathways of bioactive compounds in medicinal plants.

Monoterpenes, the major components of the essential oils of the mint family, are synthesized in glandular trichomes. In peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) precursors for the biosynthesis of monoterpenes are provided by plastidial methyl-erythritol-phosphate (MEP) pathways. Knowledge regarding regulatory elements modulating isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway and trichome differentiation is rudimentary in mint plant. In this study, we aimed to find dynamic transcriptional responses of MEP pathway and regulatory genes to methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and gibberellic acid (GA3) in M. piperita by quantitative real time-PCR (qRT-PCR). Moreover, the effects of altered precursor availability on oil composition and yield were evaluated after treatments. Consistent with the up-regulation of most of the MEP pathway genes, induced expression of AP2, WRKY and MYB genes resulted in an increase in oil yield and menthol content, suggesting combinatorial action of the JA-modulated transcription factors (TFs) in elicitation of MEP pathway gene expression. In addition to enhancing expression of some of the MEP pathway genes, GA probably affected trichome formation by induction of a C2H2-type zinc finger protein as a key trichome initiation regulator resulting in a rise in oil and menthol yield. Reduced expression of the C2H2 related TF coincided with the induction of MEP pathway genes, suggesting that the C2H2 TF may act as potential transcriptional repressor in the MEP pathway. Moreover, WRKY may regulate C2H2 and AP2 genes expression to control JA-elicited synthesis of terpenoids in M. piperita. These results provide insights related to the underlying mechanism of transcriptional regulation of terpenoids and trichome formation.

Summary The mint family (Lamiaceae) is well documented as a rich source of terpene natural products. More than 200 diterpene skeletons have been reported from mints, but biosynthetic pathways are known for just a few of these.We crossreferenced chemotaxonomic data with publicly available transcriptomes to select common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) and its highly unusual vulgarisin diterpenoids as a case study for exploring the origins of diterpene skeletal diversity in Lamiaceae. Four terpene synthases (TPS) from the TPS‐a subfamily, including two localised to the plastid, were cloned and functionally characterised. Previous examples of TPS‐a enzymes from Lamiaceae were cytosolic and reported to act on the 15‐carbon farnesyl diphosphate. Plastidial TPS‐a enzymes using the 20‐carbon geranylgeranyl diphosphate are known from other plant families, having apparently arisen independently in each family.All four new enzymes were found to be active on multiple prenyl‐diphosphate substrates with different chain lengths and stereochemistries. One of the new enzymes catalysed the cyclisation of geranylgeranyl diphosphate into 11‐hydroxy vulgarisane, the likely biosynthetic precursor of the vulgarisins.We uncovered the pathway to a rare diterpene skeleton. Our results support an emerging paradigm of substrate and compartment switching as important aspects of TPS evolution and diversification.

Culinary sage (Salvia officinalis L.) is a common spice plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae) well known for its distinctive culinary and traditional medicinal uses. Sage tea has been used traditionally as a brain-enhancing tonic and extracts from sage have been reported to have both cognitive and memory enhancing effects. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an endogenous signaling molecule involved in cognition and memory function. In this study, activity-guided fractionation employing preparative reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) of culinary sage extracts led to the discovery of benzyl 6-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-β-D-glucoside (B6AG) as a natural product that upregulates transcription of neurotrophic factors in C6 glioma cells. Purified B6AG showed a moderate dose response, with upregulation of BDNF and with EC50 at 6.46 μM. To better understand the natural variation in culinary sage, B6AG was quantitated in the leaves of several commercial varieties by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The level of B6AG in dried culinary sage was found to range from 334 ± 14 to 698 ± 65 μg/g. This study provided a foundation for future investigations, including quantitative inquiries on the distribution of B6AG within the different plant organs, explorations in optimizing post-harvest practices, and aid in the development of sage varieties with elevated levels of B6AG.

Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) is a perennial ornamental flowering plant in the mint family, Labiatae. Due to low-maintenance, and a long blooming period, it is commonly cultivated in gardens as ...

Lamiaceae (Labiatae) or the mint family is one of the most important families containing volatile oil. It is one of the largest plant families including 236 genera and more than 7,000 species. By reviewing the current available literature (2002-2018), many classes of secondary metabolites of this family were determined, viz., flavonoids (113 compounds), fatty derivatives (26 compounds) and sterols (15 compounds). Moreover, plants belonging to this family have been shown many biological activities such as antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, analgesic, cardiovascular, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antispasmodic, antiepileptic, anti-anxiety and anti-angiogenic. The most chemically investigated genus is Leonurus, while, Lavandula latifolia, Lamium garganicum, Lamium purpureum, Melissa officinalis and Moluccella laevis need more phytochemical attention. Regarding the biological investigation, Melissa officinalis was the most investigated species. Due to limited phytochemical and biological studies on many genera of the above family, we were encouraged to perform this review to help the researchers and orient them to carry out extensive studies on these plants to discover new or novel natural products.

Lamiaceae, also known as the mint family, is a family of plants comprising about 245 genera and 7886 species distributed all over the world. Plants of this family are widely used in folk medicine, cosmetics, spices, and as a flavoring agents in food. With the exception of the coldest polar regions, Lamiaceae species are distributed almost throughout the world, particularly in tropical and temperate areas, including the Mediterranean region and in tropical upland savannas. The Lamiaceae family is known for a wealth of species possessing medicinal properties with a strong history of use since early times and is well known for high essential oil content, for their richness with polyphenolic compounds and terpenoids. All of these classes of compounds are of great interest due to their biological activities. A number of studies conducted on different species of Lamiaceae family and their effects on memory, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders have been reported. For example, Rosmarinus officinalis has long been known as the herb of remembrance and was proved to boost memory, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve sleep quality. Different salvia species are used to enhance memory, as a sedative and for the treatment of headaches. Evidence for the use of other Lamiaceae species on the central nervous system (CNS), such as Dracocephalum moldavica. Clerodendrum formicarum, Nepeta clarkei has also been reported. Thymol and menthol are examples of the essential oils identified in species from Lamiaceae. It has been reported that thymol and menthol both act as positive modulators on GABAA receptors (the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian CNS acting through a number of pharmacologically and structurally different receptor subtypes). Thymol was reported to have a GABAergic activity and acts as a positive allosteric modulator with a mechanism of action similar to other depressants, such as diazepam. This review aims to survey the current literature on the effect of Lamiaceae family and its use in the treatment of CNS disorders to provide sufficient baseline information that would improve the knowledge and the application of this family as safe therapeutic alternatives.

Members of the Lamiaceae, or mint family, are used worldwide for medicinal, culinary and/or magical-religious purposes, as well as in pesticides and as ornamental plants. Very little is known about nepticulids, or pygmy moths, as leaf miners of Lamiaceae, but they may be an important component of South American diversity and potential pests of economically-important species of the mint family. In this paper, four new species of leaf-mining Nepticulidae are described from the equatorial Andes of Ecuador: S. mentholica Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., Stigmella aromatica Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., S. odora Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., feeding on Minthostachys mollis (Benth.) Griseb., and S. tomentosella Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., feeding on Clinopodium tomentosum (Kunth) Govaerts. It is hypothesized that host-plant distribution ranges can provide clues to potential distribution ranges of these newly discovered, trophically specialized leaf miners. The leaf mines, adults, and the genitalia of the new species are illustrated with photographs., This research was partially funded by a grant (S-MIP-19-30, “DiagnoStics”) from the Research Council of Lithuania. JLFA thanks the Royal Botanical Garden—CSIC of Spain, for facilitating visits to herbaria and field work in South America under the CGL 2010-19747 project in Lamiaceae.

Background: A robust molecular phylogeny is fundamental for developing a stable classification and providing a solid framework to understand patterns of diversification, historical biogeography, and character evolution. As the sixth largest angiosperm family, Lamiaceae, or the mint family, consitutes a major source of aromatic oil, wood, ornamentals, and culinary and medicinal herbs, making it an exceptionally important group ecologically, ethnobotanically, and floristically. The lack of a reliable phylogenetic framework for this family has thus far hindered broad-scale biogeographic studies and our comprehension of diversification. Although significant progress has been made towards clarifying Lamiaceae relationships during the past three decades, the resolution of a phylogenetic backbone at the tribal level has remained one of the greatest challenges due to limited availability of genetic data. Results: We performed phylogenetic analyses of Lamiaceae to infer relationships at the tribal level using 79 protein-coding plastid genes from 175 accessions representing 170 taxa, 79 genera, and all 12 subfamilies. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses yielded a more robust phylogenetic hypothesis relative to previous studies and supported the monophyly of all 12 subfamilies, and a classification for 22 tribes, three of which are newly recognized in this study. As a consequence, we propose an updated phylogenetically informed tribal classification for Lamiaceae that is supplemented with a detailed summary of taxonomic history, generic and species diversity, morphology, synapomorphies, and distribution for each subfamily and tribe. Conclusions: Increased taxon sampling conjoined with phylogenetic analyses based on plastome sequences has provided robust support at both deep and shallow nodes and offers new insights into the phylogenetic relationships among tribes and subfamilies of Lamiaceae. This robust phylogenetic backbone of Lamiaceae will serve as a framework for future studies on mint classification, biogeography, character evolution, and diversification. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2021, The Author(s). Ten Thousand Talent Plans for Young Top-notch Talents of Yunnan Province: YNWR-QNBJ-2018-279National Science Foundation, NSF: TUBITAK-BIDEB 2219, DEB-1655611RG19-172019FI009 This study was in part supported by Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects (Grant No. 2019FI009) and “Ten Thousand Talents Program of Yunnan” (Grant No. YNWR-QNBJ-2018-279) awarded to CLX, the CAS “Light of West China” program to CLX and YPC, the Australian Biological Resources Study National Taxonomy Research Grant Program (Grant No. RG19-17) awarded to TCW, CLX, and BL, NSF DEB-1655611 awarded to BTD, and the Postdoctoral Research Program (TUBITAK-BIDEB 2219) awarded to FC.

Species within the mint family, Lamiaceae, are widely used for their culinary, cultural, and medicinal properties due to production of a wide variety of specialized metabolites, especially terpenoids. To further our understanding of genome diversity in the Lamiaceae and to provide a resource for mining biochemical pathways, we generated high-quality genome assemblies of four economically important culinary herbs, namely, sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana L.), oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), and characterized their terpenoid diversity through metabolite profiling and genomic analyses. A total 25 monoterpenes and 11 sesquiterpenes were identified in leaf tissue from the 4 species. Genes encoding enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of precursors for mono- and sesqui-terpene synthases were identified in all four species. Across all 4 species, a total of 235 terpene synthases were identified, ranging from 27 in O. majorana to 137 in the tetraploid O. basilicum. This study provides valuable resources for further investigation of the genetic basis of chemodiversity in these important culinary herbs.

Salvia is a perennial plant of the mint family, Lamiaceae, and is commonly referred to as Salvia officinalis...

Agsatache rugosa (Korean mint), belongs to the mint family and it has various medicinal properties. In addition, it has several valuable compounds such as monoterpenes and phenylpropanoid compounds. Amongst these, two compounds viz., rosmarinic acid (RA), and tilianin are well-known natural compounds that have numerous pharmacological properties. The phenylpropanoid biosynthetic gene expression under stress conditions and the subsequent accumulation of phenylpropanoid content has not been extensively studied in Korean mint. Here, we investigated the effect of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the expression levels of phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway genes and the accumulation of phenylpropanoid compounds such as RA and tilianin in A. rugosa. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the phenylpropanoid pathway genes responded to the LED lights. The transcript levels of downstream genes (C4H, CHS, CHI, and RAS) were comparatively higher than those of upstream genes (PAL, TAT, and HPPR). In addition, HPLC analysis showed that the content of RA and tilianin were significantly higher in plants cultivated under white light than those grown under red, blue, green, and orange lights. The RA and tilianin content were the highest in the plantlets after three weeks of exposure to white light. These results suggested that white LED lights significantly enhanced the accumulation of phenylpropanoid compounds in A. rugosa.

Medicinal and aromatic plants have an increasing demand but this demand requires qualified material. Most of the products still obtained from nature. The mint family (Lamiaceae) contains more than 7000 species and the largest genera of the family are Salvia, Scuttellaria, Stachys, Plectranthus, Hyptis, Teucrium, Vitex, Thymus and Nepeta. The member of the family has a value through their secondary metabolites. Essential oils are the most important secondary metabolite in many of the species in the family. The genus Salvia consists of 1000 species which 107 of the taxa represented in Turkey. This review focuses on two Salvia species from natural flora of Turkey: Salvia fruticosa and Salvia aramiensis. Salvia fruticosa Mill. with wide distribution is a very important commodity with medicinal and aromatic properties. Besides that, S. aramiensis Rech. fil. occurs in a restricted area in Turkey but depending on low camphor and thujone content has a great potential to be part in trade. The importance of two species were estimated and future approaches were discussed. Especially the botany, distribution, domestication, spread, cultivation, previous studies on agricultural aspects, biological properties, breeding, molecular characterization of the species were discussed.

Annona squamosa L. is belongs to the Annonaceae family. Similarly, Thymus vulgaris L. is a flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. In this study, Annona squamosa L. seeds ethanolic extract (A...

As total life expectancy increases, the prevalence of age-related diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease is also increasing. Many hypotheses about Alzheimer’s disease have been developed, including cholinergic neuron damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Acetylcholine is a major neurotransmitter in the brain and cholinergic deficits leads to cognitive dysfunction and decline. Recent studies have linked diabetes as a risk factor in developing Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. The incidence of patients with type II diabetes and increased levels and activity of α-amylase is higher in patients with dementia. It has been shown that aromatherapy with essential oils from the mint family can improve cognitive performance in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Selected monoterpenoids from these essential oils are reported to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, both in vitro and in vivo. Terpenoids are small, fat-soluble organic molecules that can transfer across nasal mucosa if inhaled, or penetrate through the skin after topical application, enter into the blood and cross the blood-brain barrier. Recent evidence supports the idea that the common constituents of essential oils also inhibit α-amylase, a starch digestive enzyme that plays an important role in the control of diabetes. The mint family is a fragrant plant family that contains most of the culinary herbs found in the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is considered to be one of the healthiest diets in the world, and is found to be beneficial not only for the heart but also for the brain. Herbs used in this diet are rich in antioxidants that can prevent oxidative damage caused by free radicals. However, our study shows that they also contain biologically active compounds with potent α-amylase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. Consumption of fresh herbs can help boost memory and reduce sugar levels in the body. The use of herbs as a functional food could lead to significant improvements in health. Cognitive stimulation with medical food and medical herbs could delay development of cognitive decline, and improve the quality of life of Alzheimer’s disease patients. This effect can be enhanced if combined with aromatherapy, topically or by inhalation, and/or by ingestion. Terpenes and terpenoids, the primary constituents of these essential oils are small, lipid soluble organic molecules that can be absorbed through the skin or across nasal mucosa into the systemic blood circulation. Many terpenes can also cross the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, topical application or inhalation of essential oils will also produce a systemic effect.

Members of the mint family (Lamiaceae) accumulate a wide variety of industrially and medicinally relevant diterpenes. We recently sequenced leaf transcriptomes from 48 phylogenetically diverse Lamiaceae species. Here, we summarize the available chemotaxonomic and enzyme activity data for diterpene synthases (diTPSs) in the Lamiaceae and leverage the new transcriptomes to explore the diTPS sequence and functional space. Candidate genes were selected with an intent to evenly sample the sequence homology space and to focus on species in which diTPS transcripts were found, yet from which no diterpene structures have been previously reported. We functionally characterized nine class II diTPSs and 10 class I diTPSs from 11 distinct plant species and found five class II activities, including two novel activities, as well as a spectrum of class I activities. Among the class II diTPSs, we identified a neo-cleroda-4(18),13E-dienyl diphosphate synthase from Ajuga reptans, catalyzing the likely first step in the biosynthesis of a variety of insect-antifeedant compounds. Among the class I diTPSs was a palustradiene synthase from Origanum majorana, leading to the discovery of specialized diterpenes in that species. Our results provide insights into the diversification of diterpene biosynthesis in the mint family and establish a comprehensive foundation for continued investigation of diterpene biosynthesis in the Lamiaceae.

Sudarmono. 2018. Decreased populations of Scutellaria discolor and Plectranthus galeatus (Lamiaceae) on Mount Gede, West Java, Indonesian and its surrounding. Biodiversitas 19: 1866-1870. Scutellaria discolor Colebr. and Plectranthus galeatus Vahl. are herbs belonging to mint family (Lamiaceae) which have the potential to be used for medicinal purposes. However, their population is gradually declining. The population of the two species are now only found in the mountains or highlands or the edges of the forests that are still protected, i.e. Mount Gede and Telaga Warna protected forest. This research aimed to know the condition of parent and seedling population of Scutellaria discolor Colebr and Plectranthus galeatus Vahl. on Mount Gede and Telaga Warna vicinities, West Java Province, Indonesia. The research method used was parallel transect lines. Association of the existing plants in the vicinity of the area were also observed. In Mount Gede at altitudes about 1200 m above sea level there are 203 seedlings and 167 parents of S. discolor species, while there are 69 seedlings and 11 parents of P. galeatus. This is higher than the populations of 1100 m altitude, i.e. there are 76 seedlings and 45 parents of S. discolor and 12 seedlings and 9 parents of P galeatus. In Telaga Warna, S. discolor exist only at altitudes about 1500 m asl., i.e.. 47 seedlings and 52 parents. While for P. galeatus, there are 37 seedlings and 31 parents at altitudes about 1500 m. At altitude below 1400 m, there are 18 seedlings and 8 parents, this is very rare. Populations of S. discolor and P. galeatus in Mount Gede at an altitude between 1100-1300 m asl is a balance between the seedlings and its parent population which is the same for seedling populations of S. discolor in Telaga Warna at an altitude of 1400-1500 m asl, but for P. galeatus seedling number decreases from an altitude of 1400 to 1500 m asl.

The evolution of chemical complexity has been a major driver of plant diversification, with novel compounds serving as key innovations. The species-rich mint family (Lamiaceae) produces an enormous variety of compounds that act as attractants and defense molecules in nature and are used widely by humans as flavor additives, fragrances, and anti-herbivory agents. To elucidate the mechanisms by which such diversity evolved, we combined leaf transcriptome data from 48 Lamiaceae species and four outgroups with a robust phylogeny and chemical analyses of three terpenoid classes (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and iridoids) that share and compete for precursors. Our integrated chemical–genomic–phylogenetic approach revealed that: (1) gene family expansion rather than increased enzyme promiscuity of terpene synthases is correlated with mono- and sesquiterpene diversity; (2) differential expression of core genes within the iridoid biosynthetic pathway is associated with iridoid presence/absence; (3) generally, production of iridoids and canonical monoterpenes appears to be inversely correlated; and (4) iridoid biosynthesis is significantly associated with expression of geraniol synthase, which diverts metabolic flux away from canonical monoterpenes, suggesting that competition for common precursors can be a central control point in specialized metabolism. These results suggest that multiple mechanisms contributed to the evolution of chemodiversity in this economically important family.

Tabaripour R, Sheidai M, Talebi SM, Noormohammadi Z. 2018. Genetic divergence and speciation within Ziziphora capitata (Lamiaceae): Molecular and micromorphological evidences. Biodiversitas 19: 747-755. Ziziphora capitata is a member of the Mint family (Lamiaceae) that naturally grows in various regions. Different subspecies have been reported for this species, from which two are recorded from Iran: Z. capitata subsp. capitata, and Z. capitata subsp. orientalis. In the present study, morphological, palynological and molecular (ISSR and cp-DNA) data were used to reveal speciation within this species and reconsider taxonomic rank of its presumed subspecies. The obtained results revealed a great difference between two presumed subsp. of Z. capitata. These taxa differed in morphological, palynological and molecular characteristics. Statistical and bioinformatics tests revealed significant genomic difference between them and phylogenetic analyses showed that they have a close affinity to some other Ziziphora species (out-groups used), then to each other. Bayesian and maximum parsimony phylogenetic trees differentiated the presumed sub-species of Z. capitata. Moreover, K-Means clustering and Bayesian analysis of genetic groups by Evanno test (optimal k) supported the presence of two distinct genetic groups within Z. capitata. This approach objectively defines a threshold separating intraspecific population substructure from interspecific divergence, which is the general aim of species delimitation studies. Therefore, the present study provides enough evidence for introducing two separate species within Z. capitata based on the traditional taxonomy as well as combination of molecular and micro-morphological data.

Mint family is considered of great importance all over the world with increasing needs for cultivation under controlled environment, but only narrow information is available about their response in relation to potassium supplementation. The present study determines the effects of different potassium levels (K: 275–300–325–350–375 mg/L) on the morphological and biochemical characteristics of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.). The results indicated that the middle K levels of 325 mg/L increased biomass dry matter content without differences on fresh weight. Mineral content was affected, mainly for the micronutrients. High K application increased spearmint polyphenols content and antioxidant activity (DPPH, FRAP), while K > 325 mg/L revealed oxidative stress (increased H2O2), followed by the activation of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, APX, CAT) providing protective action to the plant. The main essential oil components were carvone, limonene, 1,8-cineole, germacrene D, β-pinene and β-caryophyllene. Considering greater carvone content, the 325 mg/L K treatment could be appropriate for spearmint cultivation and production for essential oil uses, improving their antioxidant and antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens.

Talebi SM, Nohooji MG,Yarmohammadi M. 2017. Short Communication: Infraspecific variations in essential oil compositions of Nepeta fissa from Iran. Nusantara Bioscience 9: 318-321. Nepeta fissa C.A. Mey. is a member of Mint family (Lamiaceae) and distributed naturally in different regions of Iran. The aim of this investigation was to provide more information about the influence of environmental conditions on the essential oil composition of two populations, Polor and Dizin, of this species. The dry plant samples were submitted to hydrodistillation for 2.5 h, using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The highest amount of essential oil yields (0.2%) were obtained for Dizin population. Forty-nine compounds, representing 85.9 to 97.80% of the total essential oils, were separated and identified. In Dizin and Polor populations, the essential oils were characterized by the very high percentage of oxygenated monoterpenes (79.1%), oxygenated diterpenes (20.01%) that constituted the predominant classes, respectively. From the analyzed populations, the major compounds in Dizin population were 1, 8-Cineole, 4 a-α, 7-α, 7 a-α-Nepetalactone and 2E, 4E-nonadienal. While, phytol, caryophyllene oxide, E-caryophyllene, and thymol were the core compounds of essential in Polor population. The obtained results showed that environmental conditions are the important factors influencing the yield and also the chemical compositions of essential oils in N. fissa. Knowledge of the essential oil chemical composition in relation to ecological factors is a most prominent quality criterion for its marketing and contributes to its valorization as a functional ingredient in food industry.

Summary Salvia divinorum commonly known as diviner's sage, is an ethnomedicinal plant of the mint family (Lamiaceae). S. divinorum is rich in clerodane-type diterpenoids, which accumulate predominantly in leaf glandular trichomes. The main bioactive metabolite, salvinorin A, is the first non-nitrogenous natural compound known to function as an opioid-receptor agonist, and is undergoing clinical trials for potential use in treating neuropsychiatric diseases and drug addictions. We report here the discovery and functional characterization of two S. divinorum diterpene synthases (diTPSs), the ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CPP) synthase SdCPS1, and the clerodienyl diphosphate (CLPP) synthase SdCPS2. Mining of leaf- and trichome-specific transcriptomes revealed five diTPSs, two of which are class II diTPSs (SdCPS1-2) and three are class I enzymes (SdKSL1-3). Of the class II diTPSs, transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana identified SdCPS1 as an ent-CPP synthase, which is prevalent in roots and, together with SdKSL1, exhibits a possible dual role in general and specialized metabolism. In vivo co-expression and in vitro assays combined with NMR analysis identified SdCPS2 as a CLPP synthase. A role of SdCPS2 in catalyzing the committed step in salvinorin A biosynthesis is supported by its biochemical function, trichome-specific expression and absence of additional class II diTPSs in S. divinorum. Structure-guided mutagenesis revealed four catalytic residues that enabled the re-programming of SdCPS2 activity to afford four distinct products, thus advancing our understanding of how neo-functionalization events have shaped the array of different class II diTPS functions in plants, and may promote synthetic biology platforms for a broader spectrum of diterpenoid bioproducts. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Over the past six years we have been studying extracts from tropical, specially Amazon, plants, to search for new sensitizers for photodynamic therapy of cancer and infectious diseases. Tectona grandis is a genus of tropical hardwood trees in the mint family, Lamiaceae. That is native to south and southeast Asia, but since the end of the 20th century is also gaining ground in the Amazon. The present work aims to evaluate the photodynamic potential of hydro-alcoholic extract from Tectona grandis LF leaves (TGE) and the same extract prepared as the oil-water nanoemulsion (TGE-NE) against melanoma B16 F10 cells. The method for preparation of a stable nanoemulsion with ~ 20 nm particles associated to the TGE (TGE-NE) was successfully developed. We have shown that both free and nanostructured presentations possess the ability to sensitize B16 F10 cells to red light of the LED in vitro. Photodynamic effect was observed for both TGE and TGE-NE because toxicity increased under illumination with red light. While TGE was highly toxic towards melanoma cells under illumination with red light of the LED, it also possessed significant dark toxicity towards both B16 F10 and murine fibroblast NIH3T3 cells. The TGE-NE showed reasonable photocytotoxicity and was much less toxic towards normal cells in the dark compared to free TGE.

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a versatile tool for genetic studies that has been applied to a variety of plant species. With the advent of more accessible genomic and transcriptomic technology applied to an increasing range of plants, tools such as VIGS are being adapted to more non-model plants to explore genes relevant to agriculture and chemical discovery. In this protocol, we adapted VIGS technology to target genes in Nepeta cataria (catnip) and Nepeta mussinii (catmint). These plants carry biochemical and economical value for their production of nepetalactone, an iridoid which provokes a strong reaction in both house cats and aphids. We describe a method to target magnesium chelatase subunit H (CHlH), a gene often targeted as a visual marker for VIGS. Furthermore, we describe a method to simultaneously target two genes in a single plant, which aids in the study of genes found in key biochemical steps in the production of nepetalactone. This approach, which was successfully applied in two members of the Lamiaceae family (mint), could be adapted to other members of the mint family with economical and chemical value.