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Garlic is a health promoter that has important bioactive compounds. The bioactive extraction is an important step in the analysis of constituents present in plant preparations. The purpose of this study is to optimize the extraction with the best proportion of solvents to obtain total phenolic compounds (TPC) and thiosulfinates (TS) from dried garlic powder, and evaluate the antioxidant activities of the optimized extracts. A statistical mixture simplex axial design was used to evaluate the effect of solvents (water, ethanol, and acetone), as well as mixtures of these solvents, after two ultrasound extraction cycles of 15 min. Results showed that solvent mixtures with a high portion of water and pure water were efficient for TPC and TS recovery through this extraction procedure. According to the regression model computed, the most significant solvent mixtures to obtain high TPC and TS recovery from dried garlic powder are, respectively, the binary mixture with 75% water and 25% acetone and pure water. These optimized extracts presented oxygen radical absorbance capacity. Pure water was better for total antioxidant capacity, and the binary mixture of water–acetone (75:25) was better for DPPH scavenging activity. These optimized extracts can be used for industrial and research applications.

Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae), popularly known as nettle, is a medicinal plant used by the textile, food and pharmaceutical industry. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the influence of different LED wavelengths and light intensity on the growth, phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of Urtica dioica grown in vitro. Nodal segments were taken to MS culture medium under 26, 51, 69, 94 and 130 μmol m−2 s−1, and the following light spectra: blue, red, white, combinations of red and blue (1red/1blue, 2.5red/1blue and 1red/2.5blue) and cool white fluorescent lamps. Leaf area, photosynthetic pigments, total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity were evaluated 40 days after culture implementation. Plantlets grown under 94 μmol m−2 s−1 showed better growth and dry weight production outcomes. Phenolic compound and flavonoid production, as well as antioxidant activity were intensified at 130 μmol m−2 s−1. Plantlets grown under 1red/2.5blue produced 5.53 times more phenolic compounds and 8.63 times more flavonoids than plants under fluorescent lights. And dry weight accumulation was favored by wavelength of 2.5red/1blue. The antioxidant activity was influenced by the light intensity, being directly proportional to the increase in light intensity. Increased red light rate induced plantlet etiolation.Key messageDifferent spectra and light intensity—altered growth and photosynthetic pigments, total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity in plantlet of Nettle.

Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. is an aromatic species popularly known as patchouli. The essential oil rich in patchoulol extracted from leaves is used by the pharmaceutical industries. The objective was to investigate the effects of shade nets and shading intensities on P. cablin growth, anatomy, chemical composition and essential oil content. The experiment was conducted with two types of shade nets (black and Aluminet), three light intensities (30, 50, and 70% shading) and full sun. The different light intensities influenced the growth and the essential oil yield, and chemical composition. Patchouli plants grown in an environment with shading showed higher values for the leaf, stem, root ant total dry weights compared to full sun. At 50% of shading, Aluminet provided gain in stem and total dry weights. Aluminet and black net at 50 and 70% of shading enhance essential oil yield. Patchoulol and pogostol contents were higher under full sun, and, black net and Aluminet at 50% shading. The environment for patchouli cultivation can be improved by use shade nets, especially with Aluminet at 50% of shading. RESUMO: Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. é uma espécie aromática popularmente conhecida como patchouli. O óleo essencial rico em patchoulol extraído de folhas é utilizado pelas indústrias farmacêuticas. O objetivo foi investigar os efeitos das malhas e intensidades de sombreamento no crescimento, anatomia, composição química e teor de óleo essencial de P. cablin. O experimento foi conduzido com dois tipos de malhas (preta e Aluminet), três intensidades de luz (30, 50 e 70% de sombreamento) e pleno sol. As diferentes intensidades de luz influenciaram o crescimento, o rendimento e a composição química do óleo essencial. Plantas de patchouli cultivadas em ambiente sombreado apresentaram maiores valores para os pesos secos de folha, caule, raiz e total em relação ao pleno sol. Com 50% de sombreamento, Aluminet proporcionou ganho de peso seco de caule e total. Aluminet e malha preta a 50 e 70% de sombreamento aumentam o rendimento do óleo essencial. Os teores de patchoulol e pogostol foram maiores a pleno sol, malha preta e Aluminet com 50% de sombreamento. O ambiente para o cultivo do patchouli pode ser melhorado com o uso de malhas de sombreamento, especialmente com Aluminet em 50% de sombreamento.

Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit is known for containing podophyllotoxin (PTOX), a natural lignan used as the lead compound in antitumor agent preparations, in its roots. The use of phloroglucinol (PHL) and indoleamines, such as melatonin (MEL) and serotonin (SER), in plant tissue culture is a promising alternative for eliciting rare and high-value secondary metabolites of medical importance. Aimed to evaluate the impact of different concentrations of PHL, either alone or in combination with MEL or SER, on the growth and accumulation of PTOX in H. suaveolens. Apical segments were vertically inoculated in MS medium containing different concentrations of MEL or SER (0; 0.25; 0.50; 1.00; 5.00 and 10.00 µM) and PHL (0 and 50 mg L-1). After 40 days, growth parameters, chlorophyll content and PTOX content were assessed. Plantlet rooting and root dry weight notably increased with the use of 0.5 µM MEL alongside PHL. Overall, treatments containing PHL showed superior results, except for chlorophyll content. SER supplementation was effective in increasing root growth, root number and leaf area. The combination of 1.0 µM MEL or SER and 50 mg L-1 PHL increased the production of PTOX in the roots of H. suaveolens by 2.0 and 1.6 times, respectively. In conclusion, the application of PHL and indoleamines demonstrated an eliciting effect on both growth and PTOX production in H. suaveolens roots, presenting a promising avenue for further research and application in eliciting targeted secondary metabolites.Key messageThe application of phloroglucinol and indoleamines, such as melatonin (MEL) and serotonin (SER), demonstrated an eliciting effect on both growth and podophylotoxin production in Hyptis suaveolens roots.

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the effects of different ventilation systems and sucrose concentrations on the growth, photosynthetic pigment content, and chemical composition of Mentha arvensis L. and M. viridis L. Photon flux (PPF) and growth were also evaluated based on M. arvensis heterotrophic, photomixotrophic, and photoautotrophic culture systems. Nodal segment explants were cultured on medium with 0, 15, and 30 g L⁻¹ sucrose and four alternative membrane systems (AMS) in culture medium, namely no membrane (NMS), one (AMS1), two (AMS2), and four (AMS4) membranes. Mentha arvensis cultivation on medium containing 15 g L⁻¹ of sucrose and four membrane (AMS4) led to the highest dry weight accumulation. Mentha viridis reached the same result with medium containing 30 g L⁻¹ sucrose and AMS2 and AMS4. Mentha arvensis produced higher chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll, as well as carotenoids when cultured on medium with 30 g L⁻¹ of sucrose and AMS4 and M. viridis when cultured on medium with 15 g L⁻¹ of sucrose and AMS4. The NMS without sucrose favored higher pulegone and AMS4 induced higher menthol, menthone, and limonene from M. arvensis cultured in vitro. Furthermore, AMS2 induced menthol production and AMS1 increased trans-sabinene, linalol, and limonene content in M. viridis. Mentha arvensis plantlets cultivated under photoautotrophic system with 130 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ showed improved growth and the highest leaf area. Thus, the recommendation to increase upper biomass and plantlet quality in mint species lies on employing an alternative membrane system under higher PPF.

Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. is an aromatic species popularly known as patchouli. The essential oil rich in patchoulol extracted from leaves is used by the pharmaceutical industries. The objective was to investigate the efects of shade nets and shading intensities on P. cablin growth, anatomy, chemical composition and essential oil content. The experiment was conducted with two types of shade nets (black and Aluminet), three light intensities (30, 50, and 70% shading) and full sun. The diferent light intensities infuenced the growth and the essential oil yield, and chemical composition. Patchouli plants grown in an environment with shading showed higher values for the leaf, stem, root ant total dry weights compared to full sun. At 50% of shading, Aluminet provided gain in stem and total dry weights. Aluminet and black net at 50 and 70% of shading enhance essential oil yield. Patchoulol and pogostol contents were higher under full sun, and, black net and Aluminet at 50% shading. The environment for patchouli cultivation can be improved by use shade nets, especially with Aluminet at 50% of shading. Key words: anatomy, light radiation, Pogostemon cablin, patchoulol, volatile compounds. Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. é uma espécie aromática popularmente conhecida como patchouli. O óleo essencial rico em patchoulol extraído de folhas é utilizado pelas indústrias farmacêuticas. O objetivo foi investigar os efeitos das malhas e intensidades de sombreamento no crescimento, anatomia, composição química e teor de óleo essencial de P. cablin. O experimento foi conduzido com dois tipos de malhas (preta e Aluminet), três intensidades de luz (30, 50 e 70% de sombreamento) e pleno sol. As diferentes intensidades de luz influenciaram o crescimento, o rendimento e a composição química do óleo essencial. Plantas de patchouli cultivadas em ambiente sombreado apresentaram maiores valores para os pesos secos de folha, caule, raiz e total em relação ao pleno sol. Com 50% de sombreamento, Aluminet proporcionou ganho de peso seco de caule e total. Aluminet e malha preta a 50 e 70% de sombreamento aumentam o rendimento do óleo essencial. Os teores de patchoulol e pogostol foram maiores a pleno sol, malha preta e Aluminet com 50% de sombreamento. O ambiente para o cultivo do patchouli pode ser melhorado com o uso de malhas de sombreamento, especialmente com Aluminet em 50% de sombreamento. Palavras-chave: anatomia, radiação luminosa, Pogostemon cablin, patchoulol, compostos voláteis.